
Class _/:_^^ 






cop^tairr deposit. 











o 




DC 




u 




X 




H 




2; 




o 




IX 




w 




> 




o 


ui 


z 


o 


5: 


Q 


w' 


>—) 


Q 


a: 


K 


03 


< 




a. 


cc 


S 


u 


(/) 


> 


o 


t— • 


Q 


Q^ 


s 


:i: 




H 


a: 


a: 


H 


o 


o 


2 


z 




o 




H 




< 




o 




o 




J 




u 




E 




H 




O 




Z 








^ 




o 




n: 




m 



r^ 



m 



HISTORY OF SHIPBUILDING 



ON 



NORTH RIVER, 

PLYMOUTH COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS, 

WITH GENEALOGIKS OF THE SHIPBUILDERS, 
AXD ACCOUNTS OF THE INDUSTRIES UPON ITS TRIBUTARIES. 

1640 TO 1872. 

BY 

L. VERNON BRIGGS 

MEMBER OP THE NEW ENGLAKD HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETT. 




BOSTON: 

COBURN BROTHERS, PRINTERS, II4 WASHINGTON STREET. 

1SS9. 



""-r]^ 






COPYRIGHT BY 

L. VERNON BRTG<^iS, 

1889. 



KESPECT TO MY FKIKND 

^r A TTTTH-U 1. iV'-'- 

DEDICATED 



WITH AFFECTIONATE 



eiixa 1^ lfltot)ittfe. 



SON OF 



,„.„.» " "~- ""'"" "'""• 

AND AUTHOR OF 

.ownnoH's rn.onc.L .AnoATOu. 



I 



PREFACE. 



Several years a^^o the author began collecting valuable facts 
relative to the shiirbuildhig interests that had existed in his own 
family, thinking it well to put into some tangible form facts that 
in a few years would be otherwise unobtainable. While thus 
working for a possible future history or genealogy of his family 
he discovered mucli of value and interest to the public in general, 
and the descendants of all North River shipbuilders in particular. 
Eio-hteen months ago he conceived the idea of writing a history 
of "the shipbuilding on North River, making it as complete as 
possible at this late day. Most of the work has been done out of 
business hours, and much of this time has been taken in his other 
duties as President of Ward XVI. Associated Chanties of Boston, 
Director of the New England Hospital for Women and Children, 
and President of the Hanover Academy Alumni. In compiling 
this history he has been ably assisted by many sincere friends, and 
has employed expert clerks among the old Probate arid Custom 
House records of many cities and towns. Acknowledgments of 
deep gratitude are due to numerous individuals who have assisted 
him by furnishing copies of records, old account books, bi Is and 
receipts, family records, diaries, etc. Were he to name all those 
to whom he is thus indebted he would include the descendants of 
many of the families whose ancestors, and in some cases they 
themselves, were versed in the art of shipbuilding, also the 
names oi sea captains, librarians, merchants, selectmen, probate 
officers, etc., not leaving out the Hon. Henry B. Pierce, Secretary of 
State, who has a most systematic arrangement ot the old records, 
manuscripts and maps in his keeping at the State House, nor Mr. 
John Tower, Editor of the North River " Pioneer,' who has ably 
written many of the autobiographies. The author dare not flatter 
himself that the work is free from errors, but as a whole it is be- 
lieved to be worthy of confidence, and where he has been unable 
to verify traditions and hearsay information bearing on this sub- 
iect, by records or manuscript in some form, he has not stated 
such information as facts. Neither time, labor nor expense has 



VI PREFACE. 

been spared to make the volume a valuable collection of facts. 
The name of North River is familiar to the older generations of 
seafaring men and especially to the older residents of Nantucket, 
New Bedfoul, Sag Harbor, Barnstable, Provincetown, Boston 
and the South Shore. Great Britain was a market for a large num- 
ber of North River built vessels before the Revolution. Prior to 
1800 North River was known the world over ; vessels were not 
designated as having been built in Scituate, Marshfield, Hanover 
or Pembroke, but "on North River." The author has unearthed 
the records of over one thousand and twentv-five vessels built 
here, and the United States Flag was carried around the world, 
and among other places, to the following countries for the first 
time at the mast heads of Nortli River built vessels : Great Brit- 
ain, Canada, the Northwest coast, to the Black Sea and China. 
The largest number of vessels built on the River in a single year 
that the author has found the records of was thirty in iSoi,and the 
year iSi 8 shows the next largest number, twenty-four. During the 
five years, from 1799 to 1804 inclusive, there were built here 
one hundred and fifteen vessels, an average of twenty-three each 
year. During the ten years, from 1794 to 1S04 inclusive, there 
were one hundred and seventy-eight vessels built here, or an 
average of 17 each year. The largest number of vessels found 
bearing the same name were Betseys and Sallys, fourteen each ; 
twelve Marys, eleven Pollys, and ten Neptunes. Times look a 
little brighter for the shipbuilders m general now ; nine or more 
vessels are on the stocks at Bath, Me. Currier has just launched a 
1200-ton four-masted schooner at Newburyport ; a similar ves- 
sel has recently been launched at New Haven, Conn., and six or 
more vessels are building at East Boston. North River may 
yet see another vessel, and perhaps many more built upon her 
banks. Several of the old sliipbuilders afiirm that in build- 
ing small vessels there are no obstacles but what could easily be 
overcome, if the men had the courage. The copied manuscript 
of this volume has been deposited with the New England Plis- 
toric Genealogical Society, 13oston. 

Hanover, November i, 1889. 

L. V. B. 



CONTENTS. 

For alphabetical list of names and vessels see end of volume. 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE. 

Sources of North River and their tributaries. — History of the industries located 

thereon 1-27 

CHAPTER II. 

North Rivee (continued).— Its bridges and ferries, and the industries that 
have been located on its lower tributaries ; also, vessels built upon its banks 
in early times at yards unknown 28-51 

CHAPTER III. 

North River Pilots. — Capt. Anthony Collamore, "Wantons, Samuel Doggett, 
John Doggett, Mark Hatch, Capt. Bardin Sylvester, Benjamin Hatch, 
Benjamin Damon, James Eldredge, Frederick Handerson, Job Young, 
Benjamin House, Jr., Jacob Ames, James Ames, Alvin Hall, Samuel 
Hall, Benjamin Keene, Asa Sherman, Asa Sherman, Jr., Tobias Oak- 
man, Capt. David Church, Timothy Williamson, Uncle Tom Tripp, Capt. 
Luther Rogers, Calvin Lewis, Jerry Gunderway, Capt. Charles L. Tilden. 52-63 

CHAPTER ly. 

North River Bridge Yards. 1668-1836. — Daniel Turner, James Barstow, 
William Barstow, William Barstow, Jr., Benjamin Barstow, Gideon Barstow, 
Nathaniel or " Builder Silvester," Nathaniel Silvester, Jr., Jonathan Sam- 
son, Barker Turner, Jeduthan Palmer, Enoch Magoun 64-76 

CHAPTER V. 

Miscellaneous Yards in Pembroke. 1793-1803. — Nathaniel Gushing, Col. 
George Turner, Thomas Turner, Robert Magoun, Job Randall, Jr., 
Ephraim Randall, and Aaron Sherman 77-83 

CHAPTER YI. 

Smith Yard. 1792-1819. (Afterward Eells' & Barstow's Yard.)— Col. John 
Bailey, Dea. Isaac Perry, Josiah Smith, Albert Smith, Thomas Smith, 
Miller Smith, Benjamin Bass, Jr., William Delano, Bezal Eells, Edward 
Eells, Samuel Eells 84-96 



Ylil CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Barstow's "Two Oaks," And Lower Yards. 1760-1846. — Thomas Barstow, 
Capt. Robert Lenthal Eells, Nathaniel Barstow, Tliomas Barstow, Jr., Col. 
John B. Barstow, Dea. Elijah Barstow, Abner Stetson, Michael Ford, Jr., 
Israel H. Sherman, Col. John Bailey, Capt. Elijah Barstow, Jr., Barker 
Turner, Joseph S. Bates 97-120 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Miscellaneous Yards in Hanover. 1736-1844. — John Clark, Nath'l Clark, 
Belcher Clark, Solomon Bates, Col. Seth Bates, David Kingman, Sam'l 
Rogers, Elijah Haywood, Joshua Turner, Dea. Isaac Perry, Wm. Coushing 
& Co., Calvin Turner, Ichabod Thomas, Benj. Stockbridge, Martin Stock- 
bridge, Isaiah Wing 121-130 

CHAPTER IX. 

Fox Hill Yarp. 1690-1869.— Nathaniel Church, John Palmer, Michael Ford, 
William Copeland, Elias W. Pratt, Elisha Tolman, Mr. Merritt, Cajjt. 
Thomas Waterman, Joseph S. Bates, Capt. Elisha Barstow, Thomas B. 
Waterman. . - 131-146 

CHAPTER X. 

Brick-kiln Yard. 1730-1807. — Capt. Benjamin Turner, Capt. Ichabod Thomas, 

Sr., Capt. Ichabod Thomas, Jr., Calvin Turner 147-175 

CHAPTER XL 

Brick-kiln Yard, (Continued). 1796-1848. — William Lewis, Alden Briggs, 
Elisha Briggs, Jonathan Samson, Samuel Rogers, Isaac Hatch, Luther 
Briggs, Aaron S. Magoun, Jr., Enoch Magoun, Joshua Magoun, Jedutlian 
Palmer, Barker Turner, Caleb Turner, Cushmg O. Briggs, Silvanus Smith, 
Melzar S. Turner 176-201 

CHAPTER XII. 

Rogers' Yards. 1790-1819. — Gravelly Beach, Doggett's Ferry.— Israel Rogers, 
Amos Rogers, Joseph Rogers, Asa Rogers, Asa Rogers, Jr., Samuel Rogers, 
Thomas Rogers, Thomas Rogers, Jr., Nathaniel Rogers, Jr., Peleg Rogers, 
Peleg Rogers, Jr., Luther Rogers 202-213 

CHAPTER XIIL 

Wanton Yard. 1670-1840.— Edward Wanton, Robert Barker, Ebenezer Stet- 
son, Snow Stutson, Benjamin Delano, William Delano, Samuel Hartt, 
William H. Delano, Benjamin F. Delano, Joseph Clapp, Elisha Foster, 
Elisha Foster, Jr., Seth Foster, Samuel Foster, Walter Foster, Samuel 
Rogers, Elijah Brooks, J. Turner Foster, Cummings Litchfield, James S. 
Burrill. • 214-242 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Chittenden Yard. 1690-1871. — Job Randall, Edward Prouty, Isaac Prouty, 
Isaac Chittenden, Nathaniel Chittenden, Obadiah Merritt, Noah Merritt, 
Samuel Silvester, George Torrey, James Torrey, Isaac Torrey, George 
Torrey, Jr., David Torrey. Joseph Nash, Elisha Barker, Laban Souther, 
Joseph Pratt, Charles Cole, Walter Foster, Elijah Cudworth, Laban 
Cudworth, Joseph Cudworth, John Cudworth, Henry Merritt, Joseph 
Merritt 243-259 

CHAPTER XV. 
Block-Housk Yard. 1701-1834-48.— William James, William James, Jr., 



CONTENTS. 



IX 




Daniel Hatch, James Torrey, Jotham Tilden, Lutier Tilden, George Torrey, ^^^_^^^ 

David Torrey 

CHAPTER XVI. 

H TUdenraeorge Tilden, William Taylor, Israel Carver. . . - 272-281 
CHAPTER XVII. 



282-325 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Litchfield, Foster Litchfield, Cummmgs Litchfield 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Whitk's Ferry Yards. 1705-1840.-Simeon Keene Simeon Keene, Jr.. Benja- 

min Keene, Isaac Keene, Luke Hall, William Hall, Samuel Hall. . . 3oO-3C2 

CHAPTER XX. 

c. Ti.„T,r,« ViBT^s lfi50-1864— William James, John Kent, Job Otis, 
^"7ohn Sorthey wramVinal Samuel Kent, Anthony Waterman, Otis 
Sgs ?rirSyVvesterBrigg8,'Barnal,asWet,b Brggs,J aCurti^^ 
liam Vinal,Jr.,^HenryVinal,Willliam Bnggs & Co., Melzar S.Turner, 
Luther Briggs, Edwin Otis, Andrew Cole 




„.c. „ ™. «Hoo„.. •■»w«-»r;;r.»"" ■— ■ " "™"' """°"- 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page 
NORTH RIVER BRIDGE (so called), built in 1829, connecting Hanover 
with Pembroke, and located just below the old Barstow Bridge; also show- 
ing the location of the " Bridge Ship- Yards " on the right. From a photo- 
graph by Robert B. Sylvester, ------ Frontispiece 

WRECK OF THE SCH. "EDWARD NORTON" on Crow Point, near the 
entrance of Scituate Harbor, Nov. 25, 1888. Fifteen men lost, one saved. 
From a photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, ----- ix 

MAP OF PEMBROKE, including what is now Hanson. From an original 

drawing and survey made in November, 1794. - . - - 5 

THE "OLD IRON WORKS," or Curtis' Anchcr Forge. From Barry's His- 
tory of Hanover, ..-..-.. 9 

CLAPP'S RUBBER MILLS, located on the site of the " Old Iron Works." 

From a pen and ink drawing, ------- 10' 

WATERMAN'S TACK WORKS, located in Project Dale, on the Indian Head 
River. Pen and ink drawing by James Hall, from a photograph by Robert 
B. Sylvester, 13 

E. PHILLIPS & SONS' TACK WORKS, located on the site of the old Bars- 
tow Forge, on the Indian Head River, So. Hanover. From a photograph 
by Robert B. Sylvester, -------- 18 

PL.\N of the parts of Scituate and Abington that were incorporated as the town 

of Hanover, June 14, 1727. From original drawing made June, 1720, - 31 

MAP showing the mouth of North and South Rivers, Hall's (formerly Keene's) . 

Ship-Yard and White's Ferry. From Ford's Map of Marshtield, - - 45 

JERRY GUNDERWAY, a North River pilot. From a photograph, - - 59 

JEDXJTHAN PALMER, born 1786, died 1860. From a daguerreotype in the 

possession of Mrs. N.P.Banks, Waltham, Mass. - - - - 72 

MAP of North River from the Third Herring Brook to Job's Landing, inclusive, 83 

MAP of North River showing the location of the ship-yards in Hanover and 
Pembroke, above the Third Herring Brook. From Barry's History of 
Hanover, - - - - 89 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XI 

Page 

SAMUEL EELLS, born 1783, died 1863. From an old picture, - - - 94 

COL. JOHN B. BARSTOW, born 1764, died 1854. From an oil painting by 

Southworth, .---... - 99 

CAPT. ELIJAH BARSTOW, JR., bom 1805. From a photograph by 

Marshall, ---------- 109 

MAP of Hanover. From an original drawing and survey made a.d. 1794-95, - 119 

BARSTOVV'S LOWER SHIP-YARD, formerly occupied by Col. Bailey, the 
Smiths and Eellses respectively ; showing also the location of the Yards built 
upon by Kingman, Rogers, Hay ward. Turner, Perry, Gushing, Thomas, 
Stockbridge and Wing on the left just below the wall. From a photograph 
by Robert B. Sylvester, 127 

FOX (or Sunset) HILL SHIP YARD. From a photograph by Robert B. 

Sylvester, ---------- 131 

SILHOUETTE of William Copeland. From an original, - - - 133 

MICHAEL FORD. From a photograph, 136 

SCH. " WILLIAM MARTIN," built by Barstow & Waterman, 1854. From a 
photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, taken while she was lying at National 
Wharf, East Boston, 1889. 142 

HER. BRIG " LIZZIE J. BIGELOW" built by Barstow & Waterman, 1866, 

lost Feb. 12, 1885. From an oil painting owned by Fabens, Boston, - 144 

CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS, JR., born 1761, died 1859. From an old picture 

owned by Mrs. James T. Tolman, Hanover, ----- 158 

"THE BOSTONIANS PAYING THE EXCISE MAN, OR TARRING AND 
FEATHERING." From a picture owned by the late Josiah Dunham, 
Esq., Boston, --------- 165 

THROWING THE TEA FROM THE TEA SHIPS INTO BOSTON HAR- 
BOR. From " Tea Leaves," 166 

SHIP " MARIA " built by Tchabod Thomas in 1782, broken up at Vancouver's 
• Island, 1872. From an old number of " Gleason's Pictorial." - 171 

FRANCIS ROTCH, owner of the tea ship " Beaver." A silhouette from " Tea 

Leaves," ---------- 172 

THOMAS COAT OF ARMS. From china owned by the late Benjamin 

Thomas, son of Ichabod, --..-.. 175 

BRICK-KILN SHIP-YARD, showing the town landing on the right of the wall 
and the location of the yard on the left. From a photograph by Joseph A. 
Tripp, " - - 181 

BARKER TURNER. From a daguerreotype owned by Alden Turner, North 

Pembroke, ---._--.. 191 

SHIP " LAURA ANN," built by Caleb Turner, in 1815. From an oil painting 

owned by Mrs. Charles Cushing, Neponset, ----- 193. 

PLAN OF HORSE- BOAT, which was to have been used on North River. 

From the original drawing, - - - - - . I99, 



Xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page 



MAP OF MARS HFIELD, from sarveys made between December, 1794, and 

June, 1795. From an original drawing on file at the State House, Boston, - 207 

MAP OF NORTH RIVER, showing the location of ship-yards between Grav- 
elly Beach and Taylor & Carver's Yard, inclusive, - - - - 214 

SAMUEL TOLMAN. From a picture owned by James T. Tolraan, Hanover, 233 

GUSHING OTIS, born 1769, died 1837. From an original silhouette, - - 251 

CHITTENDEN YARD, showing the launching of thesch. " Helen M. Foster," 
in 1871, also her builder, Joseph Merritt. From photographs by J. H. Wil- 
liams, 257 

BLOCK-HOUSE SHIP- YARD (location of the yard a little this side of the 

boat house) . From a photograph by L. Vernon Briggs, ... 268 

MAP OF NORTH RIVER, showing the location of the Briggs ship-yard at 
Hobart's Landing, and Rogers' ship-yard at Little's Bridge. From Ford's 
MapofMarshfield, 282 

BRIGGS SHIP-YARD AND HOBART'S LANDIXG, showing the original 
work house on the left, which is the only one remaining on the banks of 
North River. Engraved by Henry G. Marchant from a photograph by L. 
Vernon Briggs, -..----.. 286 

LUCY OTIS, wife of Thomas Barker Briggs. From an original silhouette, - 293 

CUSHING OTIS BRIGGS, born 1787, died 1861. From a photograph by 

Ormsby, 294 

RESIDENCE OF CUSHING 0. BRIGGS. Scituate, and birthplace of all his 

children. From a photograph, - ...... 296 

FAC-SIMILE OF ONE OF THE MEDALS struck off for the " Columbia " 
and " Washington " at the time of their sailing to the northwest coast. 
From Greenhow's History of Oregon, ------ 298 

MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER. From an original drawing, - 307 

COLUMBIA POINT below the Dalles, 307 

INTERIOR of one of the rooms in the house built by Robert Thomas about 
1712, which was afterward added to and became the residence of James and 
Gushing Otis Briggs respectively. From an original drawing by Lloyd 
Briggs about 1846, -..-.... 312 

HENRY BRIGGS, born 1789, died 1837. From a painting on ivory by South- 
worth, --....,... 316 

BRIG " CRONSTADT " ashore on Falsterbo Reef, off Sweden. From a paint- 
ing owned by Thomas B. Wales & Co., Boston, - - - 318 

BRIG " CRONSTADT," built by C. O. & H. Briggs in 1829. From a painting 

owned by Thomas B. Wales & Co., Boston, . - - - . 313 

CHARLES CUSHING BRIGGS, bom 1813, died 1843. From a painting on 

ivory by Southworth, - - . . ... 323 



LIST or ILLUSTRATIONS. Xlll 

Pagb 

WILLIAM THOMAS BRIGGS, born 1815. From a photograph, - . 324 

BRIG " NORFOLK," built by the Halls at White's Ferry in 1833. From a 

painting owned by the late Capt. F. M. Eoggs, Boston, - . - 359 

PLAN OF SCITUATE HARBOR AND VILLAGE, showing the location of 
the ship-yards. From sketches made without survey or measurements, by 
Capt. Alex. Anderson and B. W. Briggs, ----- 363 

BARNABAS WEBB BRIGGS, born 1805. From a tin-type, - - - 384 

BARK "MARTHA ALLEN," built at Scituate Harbor by J. S. Briggs, in 

1849. From a painting owned by Horace Manson, Boston, - - 386 



NORT RIFFER. 

Shvveet Shtream dot past mine Doochy flows, 

More crooked dan ine Roman nose 
Or Grecian bend, from vare it rose 

To vare it falls, as I shuppose, 
Vile on de banks de brushwood grows 

To roost de blackbirds unt de crows, 
Dine praise I'll singen, e'er I close, 
Nort Rifter. 
My lyre is't tooned, so here she goes, 

Nort Rifler. 
Oh, how ve used, de little scamps. 

To shtart oft' on our fishin' tramps, 
Unt shtand, mit vater o'er our vamps, 

Fishin' for pogies — catch in' cramps. 
At home der fater shcolds unt shtamps, 

ISIad as ine lion ven he ramps ; 
Yet oft ve'd tread dine boggy damps, 

Nort Rifter, 
Until der sky had lit his lamps, 

Nort Rifter. 
Down at de Seine ve'd take our swim, 

But oft ve'd shtand upon dine brim. 
Shaking for dread in efry limb 

Of turtles huge unt bull-frogs grim, 
Unt vater-shnakes so long and slim, 

Unt horn-pouts fierce in figliti ng trim. 
At last v'ed brave dine vaters dim, 

Nort Rifter, 
Unt o'er dine surface boldly skim, 
Nort Rifter. 



NORT RIFFER. XV 

How o'er der rainbow ve vould trip 

Down to der launching of de ship, 
Vile expectation shtood on tip 

Unt silence passed from lip to lip, 
X)own vent de spur-shore mit ine zip, 

Unt down de vays der craft vould shlip, 
Unt shlanting troo dine vaters skip, 

Nort Rifter, 
Till caught in Pembroke's inuddy grip, 
Nort Riffer. 

Sometimes ve'd paddle down dine floot. 

Like Julie, in her famed gum boot, 
Down to de ocean for to shoot 

De peep, de grey-back, unt de coot 
Unt loon dat savors nicht so goot, 

How ve vould sing, unt yell, unt hoot, 
As down dine reaches ve vould scoot, 

Nort Riffer, 
Vile dine shores echoed our salute, 

Nort Rifler. 

Now ve haf grown to pe jDig men, 

Und vield de yardstick, birch unt pen, 
Strifing to reach de Upper Ten, 

Or mourning o'er vat might haf been. 
Yet dough doze shports will ne'er again 

Delight us as dey used to den, 
Dein shtream flows past as fair as ven, 

Nort Riffer, 
Its charms first came mitin our ken, 
Nort Riffer. 

Ah ! ven der vorlt grows colt unt blank, 

Unt mine hand fails at efry yank 
To turn de wheel of fortune's crank. 

Or shift de tread in fate's dread hank, 
I'll hie me to dine rooshes rank, 

Unt build ine shanty mit some plank, 
Unt, mit ine hearty Gott sei dank, 

Nort Riffer, 
I'll eat polonies on dine bank, 

Nort Riffer. 

Clarence L. Howes. 



ABBREVIATIONS, &c. 



It has been impossible to avoid the use of abbreviations. The 
following are some of the more frequent ones the reader will 
encounter in perusing the succeeding pages : — 



h. 


for 


born. 


M.B. for 


master builder. 


d. 




died. 


bk. 


bark. 


mar. 




married. 


bark'fn " 


barkentine. 


bro. 




brother. 


b^. 


brig. 


dtu. 




daughter. 


brior'fn " 


brigantine. 


cicO. 




and others. 


Her. bg. ' ' 


hermaphrodite bri 


bit. 




built. 


sch . ' ' 


schooner. 


M. C. 




master carpenter. 


sip 


sloop. 



Until 162S the waters of the North River had probably never been 
disturbed by any navigator excepting the Indian in his canoe, and 
how we all would like to look back three hundred years and see the 
same beautiful river with the picturesque Indian and canoe, he dis- 
turbing the quiet waters w^ith tha silent dipping of his paddle. The 
first white people known to have navigated the river were the Bar- 
kers, about 1628. When they reached the "Crotch," instead of 
following up the Indian Head they ascended the Herring Brook as 
far as it was navigable with their small boat, where they left the 
stream and settled in what is now Pembroke. The history of the 
river from about this time is contained in the following pages. 



NORTH RIVER. 



CHAPTER I. 



SOURCES OF XORTH EIVER AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES. HISTORY 

OF THE INDUSTRIES LOCATED THEREON. 



"X ITHY the stream Mhich has liecome so historic takes the 
^^ name of North River, those who named it left no record, 
but probably it was either because that in going noith from 
Plymouth they found two rivers, and named the southern, 
South River and the northern, North River ; or else, during 
their explorations along the coast, when they discovered these 
two rivers, one flowing directly from the north, the other di- 
rectly from the south, meeting a little way from the coast, and 
flowing into the ocean together as one stream, they named the 
one flowing from the north, North River, and the one flowing 
from the south. South Rivei. Either would be suflScient reason 
for thus naming these rivers, and in absence of any record, one 
of these two theories may probal)ly be accepted as correct. The 
sources of North River are the Indian Head and the Namassa- 
keesett Rivers. For the benefit of those who would like to 
follow up these streams, I w^ill locate them and their tributaries, 
and on them the mills, factories, forges, etc., giving as com- 
plete a history of each as it has been possible to gather from 
the material now in existence. 

The Namassakeeset stream rises in Furnace Pond. Great 
Sandy Pond connects with Furnace, and Little Sandy Pond 
with Great Sandy ; thus the Namassakeeset receives an unusually 
large amount of water at its very source. " On a recent visit to 
Furnace Pond in Pembroke, we endeavored to collect (for want of 
better information) some of the legends and traditions connected 



SOURCES OF NORTH KIVEll. 



with that now somewhat noted locality. There is positive 
})roof that there was a blast furnace erected there as long aiio 
as 1702, and leased or hired to a Mr. Lamliart Despard for the 
})urpose of castiiii!; all kinds of ironware." Hatchets were made 
here. One casting still in existence is the back of the tirei)luce 
now in the old Barker House \n Pembroke. Plymouth Kecords 
say that Despard bought of Jeremiah INIomentague (the Indian) 
twenty acres of land there in INIarch, 1701-2, and contracted with 
Francis Barker, Robert Barker, Samuel Baiker, Joshua Barker, 
Josiah Barker, Rol)ert Barker, Jr., and Michael Wanton to have 
the furnace completed by Septeml)er, 1702. Despard was to 
do the work and have one quarter of the furnace when done, and 
the others were to i)ay him £1 -"^O. Despard was fiom Braintree. 
"In l(i48, Mr. Timothy Hatherly, the principal founder and 
father of the town of Scituate, reijuested liberty of the colony to 
erect an iron mill. It was granted Jii 1()50, on conditions that 
it l)e erected withm three years, or the privilege and certain 
woodlands about Mattakeeset Pond (now Pembroke) Avere to 
revert to the colony. It did not however take place at that 
period, but 'a smelting furnace was erected on the ])recise grant, 
by Mark Despard and the family of Barker about 1702."" 

"The follovvuig are the Articles of agreement made and confirmed 
between Joseph Bates, of Scituate, in ye County of Plimouth in New 
England, of ye one Party, and Joshua Barker of Duxbury in ye 
County aforeSd of ye other party, w^itnesseth that ye said Bates doth 
at ye day of }e date of these presents firmly bind himself to make ye 
bricks for, and set up a Stack of chimnies ; that is to say : two good 
Convenient Chimnies from ye ground and a Chamber Chimnie, and 
to Stone a seeler of thirty and one foot one way, and eighteen foot ye 
other, and to point ye same within side and without so far as ye wall 
shall be above ground, with lime, and all-so to make a Convenient 
place by ye Jam of ye Chimnie, and Stone and Point ye same for 
Stairs to pass up into ye house, and both plaster and whitewash }e 
Lower Room Chamber Lean-bow Chamber, and one room of ye 
Lean-bow Below of a house of Twenty-four foot long, and Twenty 
foot wide, and a Lean-bow of Twelve foot wide, and Thirty foot long, 
and aid-so to plaster all ye Outside of ye Chimnie and Oven with 
Lime, and is to find all Carting, Labor, and Stufe for ye finishing of 
ye Same ; all which work is to be done substanclally and w^orkman 
Like, at or before ye first day of December, in ye year one thousand 
seven hundred and three, for Said Barker, and for consideration of 
Said work }e Said Barker doth firmly bignde himself to asign and 
make over unto ye Sd Bates all that twelve Pounds money or 
money's value and teen shillings which will be due to him from Mr. 
Lambert Despard, for Rent or hire of his Eighth Part of furnace, 



THE INDIAN PONDS. O 

from September in ye rear 1702, to September in ye year 1703, and 
all-so all that Twelve Pounds, and teen shillings which was Lent or 
hired unto ye Sd Despard in order to furnish him with a Stook 
(Stock) which will be due in September in ye year 1703. and all-so 
to pay or Cause to be Paid unto the Sd Bates, the sum of five Pounds 
Money at or before ye first day of September next ensewing, in wit- 
ness whereofi'we have here-unto Sect our hands, dated * * * * the 
first, 1702-3. Signed sealed and delivered in the Presents of 

Isaac Barker, 
Francis Barker, 
Joseph Bates, 
Joshua Barrer." 

The matoriiil for the iron business was fished up from the 
bottom of the pond and from numerous "bogs" in the immedi- 
ate vicinity, where bog-ore abounds at the present day. The 
furnace was situated perhaps ten rods from the pond on the 
banks of the stream now known as the Herring brook, which, 
after meandering through miles of tangled forests and pleasant 
meadows, forms one of the chief tributaries of North river. 
As to the location of the furnace there can be no doubt, as the 
lar^e quantities of slag or cinder that covers the ground amply 
testifies. Even the inud-sill, that formed the foundation (;f the 
flume, is plainly discernible, and the surrounding ground is 
tilled with charcoal dust, which gives the ground the appear- 
ance of black lead. About two rods abo\'e the site of the fur- 
nace the stream was tapped and formed what is now known as 
the Furnace ditch, in which was the flume and water wheel that 
was necessary to drive the blast bellows. The original stream 
runs on the south side of the former structure, and though 
plainly to be seen now, is partially filled with the accumulation 
of decayed vegetation that has been gathering for many genera- 
tions. It is the natural outlet of Oldham pond of 154 acres ; 
Bio- Sandy, 110 acres; Little Sandy which formerly connected 
with it, 49 acres ; and No Bottom pond of 11 acres, together 
flowing' into Furnace pond of 112 1-4 acres, make a total of 
437 acres of water. 

On the hillside, a few rods below the old furnace, on the 
northeast side of the stream, is an old cellar, probably the one 
mentioned in an issue of the Pioneer as being built by contract 
by Joseph Bates, of Scituate, in 1703. A cedar tree covered 
with lichen and moss of a century's growth, stands on its brmk, 
a curiosity seldom seen in this part of the country, and it forms 
one of the princii)al attractions in this beautiful locality. In an 



4 ABORIGINES. 

interview with a very intelligent old gentleman, who had lived 
in that immediate vicinity for over 80 years, we learned the 
fact that the first cannon that were ever cast in this cotinfrf/ svere 
cast at this place, and he also informed us that when he was a 
child, he remembered hearing an old lady by the name of Berse 
(who had seen her hundredth year), say, that her parents took 
her up to the old furnace to see them cast pots and kettles when 
she was a mere child, but the furnace was gone long before he 
could remember. 

About one-fouith of a mile below the old furnace is another 
mill privilege, and on the dam is now standing the remains of 
a saw mill. The tirst mill at this place was l)uilt by ]Mr. 
Nathaniel Ford 60 or 70 years ago. ]\Ir. Ford was a cabinet 
maker by trade, and also had a grist mill on the same dam in 
connection with his other business. Mr. Ford appears to have 
been a very independent sort of a man, and flowed the whole 
surrounding territory regardless of the reputed rights of others, 
which caused his arrest by a ]\Ir. Isaac Barker, who claimed the 
submerged land. The case was carried to the Plymouth courts, 
but was thrown out, as Mr. Barker could produce no title to 
the property. After a time we find it in possession of Mr. 
John Gorham and Jarius Rowland, who utilized it as a box 
manufactory, and soon after it was burned down. Mr. Simeon 
Chandler next came into possession of the privilege and moved 
a building on the old site, which he fitted up for a mill, the 
same which is now standing in a ruined condition. It is pretty 
generally understood now that a large portion of this territory 
has no legal claimants, and it is almost a wonder that the to\^^l 
doesn't take the matter in hand and secure it for a park before 
it is stripped of the last remnant of its beauty. 

On or before the time of the incorporation of Pembroke 
(according to tradition) there was quite a large settlement of 
Indians on the northerly side of the streimi, whose ancestors 
had lived here from the beginning of time, so far as any one 
knows, or ever can know, to the contrary. Here they lived in 
peace and happiness, training the young red skins in the use of 
the sharp pointed arrows and more deadly tomahawks, with a 
skill and precision that no white man could ever equal ; taught 
them to track the red deer through the surrounding forest with 
an instinct only equalled by the blood hounds of modern days ; 
taught them to ensnare the cunning beaver and otter, that were 
once so plentiful in and about every stream and pond, and 



onaid-wsavw 



H.»wv>ao'g>:A<] 




PEMBROKE IXDUSTRIES. 5 

whose furs protected them from the piercing cold through the 
inclement season ; instructed them in the manufacture of fish- 
ing lines and hooks to entice the shining bass and slippery eel 
from their native element, and to cure them l)v drying in their 
smoky wigwams. Here they passed their simple lives in peace, 
watching in the earliest opening of spring, for the myriads of 
herring that forced their way p.ist them to the jwnds above ; 
idled away the long, pleasant summer in their youthful and 
innocent sports, which is usual to the young of all races ; listened 
to the mournful jabbering of the large tlocks of Avild geese with 
joyful glee, as they winged their way in the Indian summer to 
their southern haunts ; feasted on the roasted ear of corn that a 
kind Providence had placed at their disposal ; and thanked the 
Great Spirit for His kindness to His red children, who had 
kept and watched over them from time immemorial. Such was 
the condition of the red man before the coming of the pale face 
with a musket in one hand and a jug of fire water in the other, 
who with a smooth tongue and winning ways defrauded the 
poor savage of his land, stupified his senses with rum, dishonored 
his women and daughters, brought strange disorders' among 
them which had hitherto been unknown, and caused their speedy 
decay. 

A stream enters the Xamassakeeset at a point f:irther down, 
flowing from the southeast, and rising in jNlarshfield. On this 
stream have been erected several mills. 

According to Barber in his Historical Collections published 
in lb3i) : 

"In 1S37, there was in Pembroke, Mass., — i cotton mill, i 
cupola furnace, 2 tack factories, and 2 shingle mills." ''Number of 
vessels built, 8; tonnage of the same, 1000; value of the same 
$40,000; hands employed, 8." Pop. 125S. Distance, 12 miles 
from Plymouth, 9 from Scituate harbor and 27 from Boston." 

Isaac Hatch commenced the manufacture of satinets here in 
1813. In 1834 or 35 he made shoe-boxes, and from the time 
of his death in 1850 until 185y his sons carried on the business. 
The latter year they built a steam mill where they manufactured 
a million feet of boards in boxes annually. The same year 
(185!:>) the water mill was burned and a new one erected where 
they made water-pails and covered buckets. This was soon 
given up, and the manufacture of mackerel kitts begun, and 
until 1870, from 1500 to 2000 were made weekly. 



6 INDIAN HEAD KIVER. 

Calvin Shepherd commenced tlie manufacture of boxes at the 
old Shepherd cotton mill about the .same time that Isaac Hatch 
began. His son in-law, James H. West, now successfully 
carries on the liusiness there. Nathan T. Shepherd, Lemuel 
Lefurgey and John Foster are also engaged in the business. 
Still farther down, the Namassakeeset receives another tributary 
from the southwest. Between the Namassakeeset and the 
Indian Head is the great swamp spoken of 1)y AVinthrop in his 
Journal. A very good account of Namassakeeset River, or 
Barker's, or Herring River, as it is sometimes called, has been 
written l)y Dr. Francis Collamore in his history of Pembroke, 
published in Hurd's history of Plymouth Co. 

We are now back to the Crotch, formed by the junction of 
the Indian Head and Namassakeeset Rivers. At this point 
North River begins its winding, snake-like course, through hill 
and vale, flowing over twenty miles to reach the ocean, ten 
miles distant. It is a truly beautiful stream and associated with 
many historical events of our country, which fame has been won 
for it by the ships l)uilt on its banks and which it safely bore to 
the ocean, from whence they gave renown to their l)uilders and 
to the river on which they were built. We will now begin the 
ascent of Indian Head River. A few ''reaches" u}) we come to 
Chapman's Landing on the north liank, and just ))elow an old 
fording place. This has been a favorite bathing i)l:tce for the 
boys from time immemorial, until the filth, or refuse from the 
rubber mill made it un})leasant to bathe there. Here the boys 
assembled after school and on Saturdays, coming l)y the deeply 
worn old Indian path across the Indian fields that l)order on the 
marsh-lands l>y the river,* sto})})ing only to eat the luscious 
high-bush blue-berry that grows in al)undance in these fields. 
They commenced to disrobe before the river was in sight, and 
when the bank Avas reached were nearly ready to jump in. 
Diving from the opposite l)ank was a favorite pastime, and the 
author can recall many a time diving for fresh-water clams and 
cookmg them on stones heated l)y a fire built on the bank, and 
trijing to eat them. Digging and cooking them M-as fun, eating 
them Avas not. 

A little farther up, the Indian Head receives, as a tributary, 
the Iron jNIine Brook, also called Trol't Brook, or Bar- 
STOw's Brook. It rises in Randall's Swamp, north of Hanover 

* This path also leads across the Indian fields back of the residence of John Tower. 



luddam's fokd. 



St ■uKl there are still vo.n.ins on its hmik. of the ok dams 

b uiit V the beavers. It rtows south across Hanover and Ropk- 

,uiltbytneoeav«^ Capt. John Cnshnig 

vnned i •) ^B oacUv v tl .-ongh tL land of the late Col John B 
Sow^acr.S Elm St.,°and thence through the lands of 
Michael Chriltie and Reuhen Donnell into the Indian Head. 

in l(Jo2. 

Gov. John Winthrop, in his diary under date of Sept. 

^^'^AW five in the ti^ornin^ the Governor, [Winthmp] and 
About n\e Piimmith The eovernor of Phmoiith 

f,™!:. ^adln'to tircvotch, so tife Governor called that passage 
LuckUim's Ford." 

No other name has ever heen given to this locahty, and no 
mme appropriate name coukl be given. Luddam the gnu e, 
' voSdy the same Luddam that we find later in ^\ eymou 
\v t • npears now to be but an msigmlicant stream at this 
place i M iit of the river that was of the utmost miport^ice 
oth; first lettlers of the colony. This and North River fur- 
mi ^aiie supplies of food, abounding in t^h of many knids ; 
"had alewivesorherrino-, smelts, bass, white and red peich, 
S^'d shiners, the uuly horn-pout, and Deane says, sa mon 
Ciono the other vanetie' The alewives and shad ascend the 
^;;Se;ir^^ing brooks and the -- f ^^ ^^ ^ ^^l^^i:;;^ 
tent and are taken in fairly large quantities ; but e.icli } e.u tney 
^;t dlmnnshed numbL- The ^an. pi^^ent ^- -^m^- 
ino- to their old spawnmo- grounds, and the letu.e ot the mil >, 
e'pec'ally herul>l>ermill,^o impregnates the waters and hlls 
ur^ he smaller streams, that they — ^ ^^^^ ":^ | I ^I 
and without some decided steps are soon taken, all h>h ^m1 De 
comris muc^^ to thi river as the has. and salmon have 

aheady. Fish, tradition tells us, was one ot the mam supplies 



8 BAIIDWIX'S IROX WORKS. 

of food for the hardv men and women that made their habita- 
tions on the pleasant banks of North River. A few years ago 
the river was stocked with several millions of Oregon salmon, 
but they lia^e all disappeared. For over twenty years there 
was no mechanical business carried on in the colony. The tirst 
settlers followed the example of the Indians, — lived on game 
and lish, and cleared small tracts of land which they planted 
with com, beans, etc. They next built vessels to trade with. 
In early days most of the vessels were engaged in the coastmg 
trade; the ditierent colonies cstabli hed trading houses along 
the coast, and they traded with the Indians and in turn with the 
trading vessels that touched along their shores. 

AVinthrop writes, in 1()34 : 

" Our neighbors of Plymouth had oft traded with the Dutch at 
Hudson's River, called by them New Netherlands." 

He adds : 

•• We had from them about 40 sheep and beaver, and brass pieces 
and sugar, etc., for sack, strong waters, linen cloth, and other com- 
modities. Thev have a great trade of beaver there, about 9,000 or 
10.000 beaver skins in a year."* 

There were many beavers in Plymouth County when the set- 
tlers tirst came, and many of the small streams, tributaries of 
North River, have to-day dams and remnants cf dams originally 
built by these cunning and intelligent creatures. Manufacturing 
soon followed the ship-building art, and in 17(>4 a dam was Ijuilt 
just above Luddam's Ford by Tho.aias Bardix ( or Burden, or 
Baldwin, as we tind it spelled in ditierent places), who, with 
his brother Isaac, lived on Broadway in the house which was 
occupied by the late David Hersey, and which is still standing, 
and now occupied by his daughter, INIrs. Jennie Reed. Deaue 
says they were sons of Abraham Bardin of Scituate. In 1704 
Thomas Bardin also erected an anchor forge and supplied the 
increasing demand for anchors for the vessels built on the ship- 
yards below ; also the iron knees then used to some extent. 
That Thomas Bardwin, probably son of the above Thomas, 
succeeded to the business, we have good reason to believe, as 
in the Bost<,n Evening Pof>t of Feb. 1-4, 1774, we tind that 
there died 



* Winthrop's History of New England, I, 138. 




2 •— . 



CURTIS' ANCHOR FORGE. 9 

"At Hanover, Capt. Thomas Bardvvin, asfed SG. He was oorn near 
Haverfonl-^^'est, in South Wales, came over in 171G, and ivas the first that 
made bar iron m New England.''^ 

The first bridge at tliis point T^'as probably built about this 
time. In 1730 the records of the town speak of this forae or 
iron foundry as the "old iron works" Before 1740 we find 
these iron works in the ]iossession of the Josselyns, who had so 
much troul)le with the town in regard to their clam, which ])re- 
vented the herring from ascending the riA'er to their spawnino- 
grounds. There were two brothers, Capt. Joseph ( also a dea- 
con ) who gave a bell to the Centre Church, and w^ho was a 
man of great enterprise, and Deacon Thomas, who gave two 
silver communion cups to the First Church, and who was a se- 
lectman at one time. They were succeeded by Seth, Philip, 
Isaac, *and John R. Josselyn, Lemuel Dwelley, Benj. Studley, 
and Lemuel Curtis. In 17i»0 Lenuiel Curtis, who lived where 
Solomon Russell ncnv resides, sold one-quarter of the forge, 
etc., to his sons Reul)en and Consider Curtis ; Philip and Isaac 
Josselyn had sold out previously. Reul)en Curtis and the 
others continued making anchors and doing the iron work on 
the vessels l)uilt below, and the business increased until thev 
had more tlian they could attend to. Mr. Curtis was also a 
large owner in some of the vessels, and was town clerk and 
representative to the General Court. He resided on Elm Street, 
near his forge, where Reul>en Donnell now lives. In 171)1 
Benjamin Studley and John R. Josselyn sold out to Lemuel 
Curtis. Seth Josselyn disposed of his interest in 1803. In 
1<S31 Reuben Curtis sold his fourth to George Curtis, the only 
son of Consider, and in 1839 Lenuiel D\velley sold his half to 
George Curtis, which, with the other interests he bought or in- 
herited from his father, left him in sole possession of the works. 
Tlie first works erected l)y the Curtis family were burned in 
1848, as was also a corn mill which Avas built in 1832. George 
Curtis lived where Edward Sweeney now resides, on Elm Street, 
near Curtis' Crossing, and a cut of the house and also the forge 
is in Barry's History of Hanover. He died Feb. 16, 1875. 
INIr. Curtis employed about sixteen hands, and made two hun- 
dred and fifty tons of anchors per year, ranging in weight from 
one thousand to ten thousand pounds each. During the war of 
the rebellion, Mr. Curtis accunmlated a great deal of money 
making anchors for the United States government ; many 
anchors were also made at this forge in the early part of this 
century for the government some weighing five tons. The / 



10 CLAPP's RUBBER :MILL. 

u/ anchors for the grand old war sliip Conxtitntion were forged here. 
For over one hundred and fifty years the "h)ud din of the 
descending hammer could be heard here daily," but now the 
forge, which was sold and occupied as a rubber mill, is replaced 
by a large modern structure far less picturesque. 

In Xovember, 1873, Eugene H. Clapp bought the old forge 
property of George Curtis. At that time he was in company 
with his cousin, Fred. "W. Clapp, which partner.ship continued 
until Jan. 1st, 1880, when it was teiminated by the death of 
Fred. W. Clapp. Since 1880 Eugene H. Clapp has been sole 
proprietor. They found the old buildings in the condition in 
which ]\Ir. Curtis left them, and fitted them up as cheaply as 
possil)le, as at that time they were not in a very prosperous 
financial condition. The old flumes were carried away ])y a 
freshet within a few days after the property was bought, and 
the Clapps were forced to build entirely new flumes, and put in 
a new water-wheel. They started at first with two grinding 
machines which, in the process of time, have been increased in 
number, until to-day they have twelve. They at first only juit 
in a floor upon which to work over one end of t!ie mill, but 
business so increased as to necessitate three floors in 1881. In 
1879 they put in a small seventy-five horse-power steam engine 
at the west end of the factory, and some additional rubl)er 
grindeis, so they could run by steam when the water supply 
was short. In 1880, after E. H. Clapp had acquired all the 
property, he put in another and larger steam engine at the 
other end of the mill, a three hundred horse-power Corliss, 
which has been running from that time until the present. In 
Se})tember, 1881, the factory building proper was entirely de- 
stroyed l)y fire ; also the roof of the boiler house on the east 
end of the mill. Mr. Clapp immediately built a much larger 
mill, and started it up in less than four weeks from the time of 
the fire, and since that time has been constantly adding to the 
propeity. In 1885 he added still another engine at tlie Avest 
end of the mill, replacing the old seventy-rive horse-power 
engine with a new Brown steam engine, with two hundred horse- 
power capacity. In 1886 he l)uilt a new factory on the Pom- 
broke side of the river, and in 1888 d()ul)led the capacity I)y a 
new addition. In 1889-1890 he proposes to put in a new 
M-ater-wheel and other machinery, all of which would have been 
added in 1888 but for the extraordinary height of water all the 
season. 



CAPT. HAVILAND TORREY. 11 

When Messrs. E. H. and F. W. Clapp first occupied the mill 
in 1873 they employed only three men, but now they often 
liaA'G as many as one hundred, and seldom less than ,>eventy-fiye 
emph)yed. They have an electric plant connected with their 
mill and when business is rushino-, work at ni»>ht by electric 
lio^hts. The business, which was started Avith a o-rindino^ 
capacity of one thousand pounds per day as their maximum in 
1873, has increased so that ]Mr. Clapp is to-day able to crind 
forty times as nuich, or twenty tons daily, — and is handling 
several thousand tons yearly, whereas in 1873 he only handled 
about one hundred and fifty tons. It certainly is a great 
business grown from a small industry, and where it will end is 
hard to say, — but, judging from the past, it bids fair to rival 
any industry on the South Shore. 

Usually, mills an<l factories, while they enrich the towns, do 
not tend to the peace and comfort of the inhabitants, as they 
often bring in a class of foreigners who strike, carouse, and 
make it disagreeable for })caceful residents. It is not so, how- 
ever in Hanover. From the times of early ship building until 
the present, men's sons resident m and about the town have 
been employed, seemingly like one large family, and those 
which Mr. Clapp has l^een obliged to import, have, with few 
exceptions, become good citizens, and many thanks are due 
him for his careful selections. It is to lie hoped it may continue 
so. ]\Ir. Clapp's actual pay-roll amounts to between forty and 
fifty thousand dollars yearly and the product of the mill in the 
neighl)orhood of four hundred thousand dollars yearly. He 
has now complete accommodation for handling and utilizing all 
kinds of rubber material according to the latest and best known 
processes, both mechanical and chemical, is doing two or three 
times as much work as any of his competitors, and is handling 
more than one half of this business in the United States. 

On the PemlH'oke side of the stream, opposite the ''Old 
Forge," stands an old saw mill now used as a chemical shop or 
laboratory for the ruliber mill, having l)een altered and enlarged. 
This mill was owned by George Curtis and Haviland T(nTey, 
who was a Capt. of the Second Regnnent, First Brigade, Fifth 
Division, Pein])roke, ]\rilitia. He was the father of Benj. B. and 
Herbert Torrey of HanoA'er, and li\'ed in Pembroke on the hill 
just above the mill. He died Aug. 2G, 18(J5, aged 74 3'ears. 

Near this mill stood an old carding-mill, first built by Jesse 



12 PROJECT DALE. 

Eeed at a spot farther uj) stream and lno^'ed from thence 
to its last location. This mill was leased from 183(3 to 1838 by 
Edward Y. Perry, Esq., for a tack factory when it was located 
up stream (see "Waterman's and Phillips's factories). 

"We will now leave the "Old Forpre," or the modern Rubber 
]\Iill and follow up the beautiful Indian Head River as it flows 
over its shallow course beside the railroad and the delightful 
drive known as Project Dale. Aliout half way through the 
Dale we come to a dam and a tack-factory now owned and 
occupied by the firm of L. C. Waterman & Sons. This privilege 
dates l)ack to about 1700. Between then and 1737 there was a 
fulling-mill on this spot occujiied by James Torrey, who had 
bought fift^-two acres of land of "Wm. Clift. As early as 1737 
the locality was known as Project Dale and during the same 
year the mill privilege was sold to Thomas Josselyn and known 
as " Josselyn's Corn Mill." A lane led to it from the terminus 
of Spring St. on Broadway, which was known as ]\Iill Lane, 
and is now grown up with bushes. 

After ]SIr. Josselyn's death the mill was sold to Capt. Joseph 
Stetson* who lived for a time on AVater St. opi)osite the tack 
works, where Theodore C. Dyer now resides. He was a soldier 
during the French war and a mariner for many years. At his 
decease the privilege was sold to Lemuel Curtis, who gave it to 
his son, Nathaniel, who sold it to either Elihu or Aaron Hol)ai-t. 
About this time, or a little later, the dam was raised four or 
five feet, which is said to have destroyed the privilege at the 
"old dam" above, built by Col. Jesse Reed, and sold by him to 
Elihu Hobart, Sept. 14, 181G. 

Between the years 1829 and 1839, Charles Dyer owned and 
managed the liusiness, which was that of making tacks for Mr. 
Hobart. About this time he formed a partnership Avitli E. Y. 
Perry, Esq., which continued until 1850, when ]\Ir. Perry took 
sole charge of the works, which lie carried on until he went in 
1853 to the old Barstow works, now Phillip's factoiy. Mr. 
Perry employed at this factory sixteen hands and manuftictured 
3(»0 ll)s. of shoe nails per day and about 800,000 tacks. He 
used al)()ut three tons of cojiper, twenty-five tons of zinc, and 
sevent}'-tive tons of iron per }'ear. 

The location of these works is very picturesque, being on 



* A descendant of Cornet Robert through Joseph .and Samuel. 



waterman's tack factory. 13 

the edge of a placid pond, which during the summer sunsets is 
a perfect mirror. It is surrounded by hills, thickly grown with 
foliage, and has a beautiful fall of water over the dam most of 
the year. There was formerly a bridge over the Indian Head 
at this point but it disappeared many years ago. Old residents 
now remember when wool was taken here to be carded. In 
1860 L. C. Waterman & Co. leased a part of the old factory 
with poAver of Geo. Curtis, into whose possession it. had fallen. 
The original lirm was composed of five partners : — Lemuel 
Cushing Waterman, Josiah M. Smith, George P. Clapp, Wil- 
liam J. Render, and William P. Winslow, all practical tack- 
makers. Twelve machines were put in at first with a capacity 
of fifty or sixty tons per year, the full force of persons employed 
being eight to ten. Mr. Waterman sul)sequently bought out 
the interests of his partners and took into the firm his son 
Rodolph Cushing, and later, his son Ir^neus Lloyd, and the 
style changed to L. C. Waterman & Sons. In 1870 the firm 
purchased the entire factory property and power of George 
Curtis, since which time extensive improvements have been 
made and new buildings and machinery added as the business- 
increased. In 1875 L. C. Waterman retired from active con- 
nection with the business, devoting his time to the care of the 
Geo. Curtis estate, of which he was trustee. He was born in 
So. Scituate, July 14, 1814, educated at Hanover Academy, and 
began life in a wholesale dry-iroods store in Boston. Here he 
remained two years, when he returned to his native town and 
taught school. At twenty-five he married Elizabeth B. Good- 
ing, daughter of Henry Gooding of Boston. Soon after he was 
employed in the tack-factory of Sam. Salmond at Tift'any, being 
superintendent at one time. With Mr. Salmond's death his 
connection with these works ceased and he commenced business 
at Project Dale. He died March 11, 1889, leaving the business 
to his three sons. The number of machines now operated here 
is thirty-four and the capacity of the factory about 250 tons per 
year. The full force of male and female help employed is 
twenty-five. The line of goods manufactured has always been 
of the finest quality and adapted to the uses of the furniture and 
upholstery trade, also tacks for carpet laying and for car and 
carriage work. 

In February, 1886, an uncommonly heavy fall of rain caused 
a flood along this valley ; at Barstow's anchor works on King 
St. and at E. Phillips & Sons' tack-factory at South Hanover 



14 COL. JESSE KEEI). 

the dams were nearly destroyed. At Project Dale the water 
poured into the factory and the under-pinning and dam -were 
partially carried away. All the factories and mills suffered 
great damage, bridges were washed away, trains were stopped, 
and at Salmond's tack works on the Third Herring Brook, a 
good part of a large hill, side of the dam, was washed away. 
Another heavy freshet occurred in November, 1888, but little 
damage was done. 

The second tributary to the Indian Head of any account is 
i^ocKY Run Brook, which flows into the stream about one 
hundred rods below E. Philips & Sons' tack-works. It rises in 
the western j)art of Peml>roke about half a mile north of Oldham 
Pond, and flows in a north-westerly direction past the residence 
of James H. Dwelley. In the centre of the pond, which Mr. 
Dwelley has made near his house by damming this brook, is an 
old site of a mill, built early in 1700 and owned and run, 
tradition says, by Dea. Isaac Buck. Here he manufactured 
wooden , ware, consisting of bowls, trays, skimmers, (one of 
which is preserved in Hanover, as is some of his other work), 
2:)lates of a curious pattern, and other useful articles. Mr. Buck 
was a Hanover man, and lived in South Hanover on the old 
road which was laid out from Scituate and which connected 
with the road from Cricket Hole to Indian Head Pond. He 
was a near neighbor of Benj. Sylvester, whose daughter Abigail 
he married in 1737. In 1728 he signed the Church Covenant. 
In 1731 he was chosen on the jury, and July 31, 1733, was 
chosen Deacon of the First Church. He is supposed to have 
been a son of Lieut. Isaac Buck of Scituate, as there is an Isaac 
recorded among the baptisms of that town. 

Col. Jesse Reed, after disposing of his first privilege in Han- 
over, moved to one near Rocky Run, where he erected works, 
and conveyed water to his wheel through a trough one-third of 
a mile long ; l)ut the difficulties were such that he finally sold 
out and removed to ]\Iarshfield. 

The next [)rivilege on the Indian Head al)ove Waterman's is 
what is now known as the "old dam.^' This privilege was jmr- 
chased by ]\Ir. Enos Bates, who contemplated building a dam 
and grist-mill, 1)ut before he carried out his plans he sold it to 
Col. Jesse Reed, who built the dam and erected a grist-mill, 
nail factory, and machine shop. An old, unfinished mill-stone 
was recently found by Calvin T. Phillips who now owns the 



BARSTOW'S FOKGE. 15 

property. A road, which -was proba])ly the first in the colony, 
crossed the river alxnit thirty rods heh)w this dam, and was 
used l)y the settlers for nearly one hundred years to get to their 
possessions at the Indian Head Ponds. The piers of the old 
bridge are now occasionally seen when the water is low. Mr. 
Hira Bates, who, with his wife, lives with their son, Hira W. 
Bates, at South Hanover, both at the advanced age of ninety- 
three years, but in possession of good health and all their facul- 
ties, reraem})er& when there was a foot-bridge at this spot. 
Hira Bates, and his wife Lucy, were born on the same day and 
hour, and have been married sixty-four years. 

Col. Jesse Reed was one of the most intelligent and noted 
men we ever had in town. He was inventor of the tack ma- 
chine, and his Reed's machine is used to-day with scarcely any 
improvements. He was also the author of some twenty or 
more other inventions, among them patterns of pumps, cotton 
gins, tree-nail machines, etc. A full account of Colonel Reed 
and his inventions can be found in Barry's History of Hanover, 
pages 141 and 363, and it is well worth reading. The factory 
that he built on the Bates privilege was moved to Project Dale 
and used by E. Y. Perry, Esq. 

A short distance farther up the stream is the manufactory of 
E. Phillips & Sons. In 1720 the town granted two acres of 
land on the Indian Head River, ])etween'Pine Hill and Rocky 
Run Brook, to Capt. Joseph Barstow and Benjamin Stetson, 
"for the accommodation of a forge and finery." A bridge was 
built across the river this year and Barstow and Stetson erected 
a forge which Avas known as Barstow's Fqrge. Capt. Joseph 
Barstow was also interested in a grist mill, a sloop, and was a 
large land-holder. He died July 25, 1728, leaving pro})erty 
appraised at over thirty thousand dollars. His youngest son, 
Joshua, inherited his interest in the forge. Joshua was then 
eight years old, but as soon as he reached a more mature age, 
he improved the business left by his father and continued in it 
until his decease, being drowned at the eastward, Oct. 3, 17(33, 
aged forty-four. His son Joshua, then fourteen years old, 
succeeded him, and was soon conducting the forge, which 
business he continued until his removal to Exeter, N. H. about 
1795. During the Revolution Mr. Barstow is said to have done 
quite a business in the manufiicture of cannon balls. He melted 
the iron at an ordinary forge fire and moulded them in the 
bottom of his forge. In 1795 the property was sold to Robert 



16 ROBERT SALMOXD. 

Salmond and others. Benj. Stetson was probably out of the 
tirm previous to 1755, though his son Benj., a l)hicksmith by 
trade, may have succeeded him. For about thirty years Mr. 
Sahiiond was engaged in the iron business at this forge. For 
twenty-eight years Nathaniel Cushing was interested with him 
and also Chas. Josselyn for a much shorter time, who was also 
engaged in business on King St. 

Eobert Salmond and others were in 1813, 

"Making some large Anchors for the Frigate that is building at 
Charlestown." 

His sons were building or had built a ship at Bangor, Me., 
and it Avas lying idle until the war was over. In writing to his 
sons, Mr. Salmond says : 

" If the war continues five years longer the ship will not be worth 
but little more than the iron that is in her." 

What became of this vessel is not known, but in October, 
1814, the sons Robert and Samuel wrote : 

"We are still in darkness respecting the fate of the vessel, but it 
is highly probable she will be burnt where she is standing, by the 
British, if not ransomed in the sum of $2000.00 ; if burnt, the town 
will be liable, but if the fown is burned too, of course their liability 
will not be worth much." 

Robert Salmond died May 5, 1829, aged eighty. During the 
last few years of his life Thomas Hobait of Al:)ington was a part 
owner in the forge, there being also on the premises at that 
time a tack-factory and corn mill. About 1825 Messrs. Hobart 
and Salmond had a contract from the United States Govern- 
ment for the manufacture of anchors for the Navy, and several 
were made for the old seventy-four gun ships, probably of the 
largest size ever forged. In 1828 Mr. Salmond disposed of 
his interest to Mr. Hobart and Mr. Hobart took into the firm 
John Sylvester, who had been employed in the forge since 1825. 
Previous to that time he was a tack-maker, and also had been 
in the " Old Mill Dam Iron Works " at Boston and Watertown. 
Joseph Sylvester was foreman. John Sylvester managed the 
works very successfully. About one hundred tons of bar 
iron were made per year, one hundred tons of anchors, 
and twelve to fourteen tack machines Avere run and several built 
yearly. In 1830 they commenced the manufacture of locomo- 



HANOVER FORGE CO. 17 

tive cranks and it is claimed that they were the originators of 
this industry.* 

In 1837 the partnership terminated and Mr. Sylvester formed 
the Hanover Fonje Company^ which continued until 1853, when 
he sold out and removed to Belmont, Mass., where he resided 
until his death, March 18, 1882, in his eighty-fourth year. 
Until 1858 he was one of the firm of John Taggard & Co., Iron, 
Boston. That year he purchased the Danvers Iron AVorks at 
Danversport, and in 18G4, the Spike Works at Somerville, 
which interest he held at his death. 

In 1853 Ezra Phillips, E. Y. Perry, and Martin ^X . Stetson 
formed a partnership under the firm name of E. Y. Perry & Co., 
for the purpose of carrying on the tack business, ]Mr. Perry 
moving his machines from Project Dale, and Mr. Phillips his 
from the old Thomas privilege. Mr. Perry had previously 
purchased the above forge, lately occupied by John Sylvester, 
and known as Sylvester's Forge, at South Hanover for $3100. 
The financial panic of 1850-57 soon overtaking them, Mr. 
Stetson became discouraged and withdrew. Messrs. Perry & 
Phillips continued in business together until 1874. Their 
business relations were of the pleasantest kind. They always 
honored and spoke well of each other. They each had remark- 
able talents in difierent directions and what was lacking in one 
was found in the other. Under such strong-minded and prac- 
tical men the business increased rapidly and they were very 
successful. Mr. Perry's experience at Project Dale, and Mr. 
Phillips's at So. Abington, under Jas. Soule, and at Mr. 
Hobart's factory in Hanson, did not come amiss. In 1874 Mr. 
Perry's outside interests had become quite large and demanded 
so nuich of his time that he felt obliged to withdraw, thus leav- 
ing a vacancy valuable to whomever was decided upon to fill it. 
Mr. Phillips wisely took in his two sons, Calvin T. and Morrill 
A., under the firm name of E. Phillips & Sons, which name still 
continues. A fairly good account of Mr. Perry and of ^Nlr. 
Phillips can be found in Hurd's History of Pl^'mouth County, 
1884. To Mr. Perry's energy and push, to his strong will and 
business ability, is due the fact that Hanover is to-day so far 
ahead of its surrounding towns (only excepting Rockland). 



* " Hanover is a manufacturing place, manufacturing bar iron, iron eastings, anchors, 
plows, vessels, tacks, leather boots and shoes and woolen cloth annually to the amount 
of $75,000," says Haywood in his New England Gazetteer in 1839. 



18 E. Y. PERRY & CO. 

It is he who has l)uilt up many of our industries, especially the 
luml:)er and mill industry ; and real estate, that would often have 
been sacrificed, found in him a ready purchaser. He ^\'as 
mainly instrumental in brinoing the Hanover Branch Railway 
into existence. It was he who conducted it on such a strict and 
successful Imsis, that it was the only road, probably, in the 
United States without bonds and with virtually no debt at the 
time of its purchase by the Old Colony in 1887. At this time Mr. 
Perry again felt the press of l)usiness and Avas glad to withdraw 
from the Presidency of the Hanover Branch Railway, and when 
the Old Colony R. R. signified a wish to buy it he was strongly 
in favor of selling out to them at par, which price they paid. 
He did not forget to speak a good word for the employees and 
recommend that they all be retained, which was done. j\Ir. 
Perry was l>orn in Penil)rt)ke, now Hanson, Mass.. Xov. 4, 
1812, married Mary B., daughter of David and Deborah B. 
Oldham of Pembroke, Mass., July 8, 1834, and now resides 
in South Hanover, Mass. They had but one child which died 
in infancy, Mr. Perry still continues in business, his mind 
being as clear and active as ever. He has recently passed through 
a severe illness, ])ut his strong constitution, which he inherited 
and has kept perfect by his regular habits, came to his rescue, 
and he is now about as of old, quite himself again. His grand- 
father died in his ninety-third year and his grandmother li^^ed 
to be within less than three months of one hundred >'ears old. 

Mr. Ezra Phillips was born in Pembroke, now Hanson, Oct. 
10, 1810, and married Catherine H., daughter of Dr. Calvin 
Tilden of Hanson, Nov. 27, 1834. In 1848 Mr. Phillips pur- 
chased one-third of the factory in Hanson, owned until then l)y 
Mr. Hobart and commenced the manufacture of tacks for him- 
self. Upon his entering into partnership with Mr. Perry, he 
assumed the management of the mechanical part of the business, 
being " a good manager of workmen and an excellent judge of 
the worthand merits of machinery." Mr. Perry, " an excep- 
tionally good financier and general manager, clear-headed and 
a cool and accurate calculator," managed the business part. A 
more fitting tril^ute could not be paid to Mr. Phillips than Mr. 
Perry's testimony of his connection with him. He says, "After 
an intimate business and soci:d relationship with Mr. Phillii)s 
for more than thirty years, I consider him one of the grandest 
and best men I ever knew. The routine of business was robbed 
of its monotony and vexation by the tact, geniality, pure 



< o 




MILLS ON THE INDIAN HEAD RIVER. 19 

methods, and mcnly way in which Mr. Phillips bore himself. 
It was simply pleasure to do business in connection with such a 
man." Mr. Phillips died in Hanover, May 15, 1882, and his 
two sons have since successfully carried on the business under 
the same firm name. At the present writing they employ at 
this factory from forty-eight to fifty two hands, running seventy- 
one tack and nail machines, a rolling mill, machine shop, and 
have a sixty horse-power engine. They cut last yearaliout 750 
tons of nails and tacks and rolled 250 tons of zinc and lead. 
The tacks average about 6400 to the pound, or 12,800,000 to 
the ton ; nails about 750 to the pound, or 1,500,000 to the ton. 
This factory is one of about forty now in this country.* 

Ascending the Indian Head river, about one half mile above 
Phillips's tack works, we come to its junction with the Drink- 
water River. We will follow up the Indian Head, then come 
back to the Drinkwater. The first dam on the Indian Head 
stream is about one mile from its junction with the Drinkwater, 
and was probably finished in the spring of 1715, as we find that 
on May 30th of that year "Joshua Gushing, Joseph Foord, and 
Thomas Barker of Pembroke and Thomas Rowland of Marsh- 
field enter into an agreement in regard to a Saw Mill that they 
are Iniilding on the Indian Head stream near the road that leads 
to the little Cedar swamp." In 1827 Dr. Samuel Barker sold 
the right for mill privilege to Elihu Hobart, who erected a tack- 
factory and employed Hervey Dyer as agent. He remained 
ten years, when it was sold to a Company and by them to 
Luther Howland of Hanson, who manufactured tacks until 
about thirty years ago, when the factory was burned. It has 
not since been rebuilt. The privilege is owned by Lewis 
Wliite. 

Farther up the stream is the dam built by the Thomases. 
Col. Nathaniel Thomas f bought a large tract of land in this 
vicinity in 1694-95 and his son, Isaac, settled on that portion 
40 rods east of the mill. The cellar is still visil)le. It is doubt- 
ful if Nathaniel ever lived here. If he did it is certain that he 
later moved to Marshfield, as appears by an account of his wife's 
death in an old paper. 

" Marshfield, October i6 (1727). On the Sth Instant, the Lord's 
Dav Morning, died here, Mrs. Mar}' Thomas, Wife to Nathaniel 



* See account Cushing's Mill above Teague's Bridge, 
t See Thomas's Brick-kila Yard. 



20 Thomas's saw mill. 

Thomas, Esq : of this Place. A truly valuable Person, for bright 
and unblemished Vertue, unfeigned and unaflected Piety, rare and 
excellent Wisdom and Discretion : yea for all or most of those 
Ornaments and Endowments of Nature and Grace, which sei've 
Adorn and Distinguish Her Sex : One in whom the united characters 
of a Compleat Gentlewoman and solid christian, \vere exemplified 
and Beautified to an uncommon degree : One who by Her prudent, 
humble, afiable, peaceable, courteous and obliging temper and 
carriage, gained and to the last maintained a great interest in the 
esteem and affection of all that knew Her ; Her death has filled 
many hearts with grief, and has caused an universal lamentation. 
She was decently Interred on Wednesday the nth Currant." — The 
New Eng. Weekly Journal. 

In 1712 the above mill, (erroneously called Cotton's Mill in 
Kurd's History of Plymouth Co.) was written in the old records 
"Colonel's Mill," which is correct. A deed dated January 
1716, mentions "the old saw-mill called Col. Thomas's Saw 
Mill." In 1722 it is spoken of as Isaac Thomas's Saw Mill, and 
in 1737 as Edward Thomas's Saw Mill, formerly owned by Col. 
Thomas. Edward was son of Isaac. Later a grist mill was 
built here, which was run by Dea. David Beal. The following 
advertisement shows that Col. Thomas either had business in 
Marshlield about the same time, or else did iron work here. 

"August 24th, 1713. A Cast Hammer, Anvil Plates and all other need- 
ful cast iron work for a forge or iron works, all new, to be sold by 
Nathanael Thomas, Esq., at Marshfield." 

About 1829 Benj. Hobart of Abington bought the mill and 
put in machinery for cutting tacks. It was burned in 1835, 
but rebuilt, and used as a tack factory until 1848, when 
Nathaniel Cushing bought two-thirds of it for a trunk factory, 
Ezra Phillips buying one third for a tack factory. Cushing soon 
sold out to A. J. Taft & Flavel Shurtleff. Later Mr. Shurtleff 
bought Taft's share. ]Mr. Phillips went into company with Mr. 
Perry from here. Henry H. Brigham of So. Abington later 
bought the whole, and used it as a tack factory until it was 
burned in 1859. Since then there has been a saw-mill here. 
This privilege is now owned by E. Phillips & Sons. The 
stream rises in the Indian Head Pond in Hanson, from whence 
it received its name. 

Returning to the junction, we follow the Drinkwater River 
up to Teague's Bridge, so named for Daniel Teague, w^ho 
lived in Hanover, a few rods above it, about 1750 to 1760 and 



hatch's mill, 21 

whose cellar can still be seen. This bridire was built before 
1740, at which time it was spoken of as Hatch's Bridge. Just 
above the bridge there is a dam built probably about 1716, as, 

"On July ist, 1716, John Rodgers of Marshfield, John Gushing, 
Amos Turner, George King, Joseph Barstow,* Samuel Barstow, 
Michael Wantonf and James Hatch, all of Scituate,J and Joseph 
Stockbridge of Pembroke, enter into an agreement in regard to a 
saw-mill that they are building in Scituate upon Drinkwater Fiver, 
near where the line between Scituate and Abington crosses the 
river." 

This was known as Hatch's Mill,Dea. James Hatch probably 
owning the largest interest. He lived on Hanmer's Hook, on 
land bought by Jeremiah and Walter Hatch of John Hanmer 
before 1680. This estate was sold to Cornelius White in 1743, 
a descendant of Peregine AVhite, the tirst male child born in 
Plymouth Colony, — and in 1850 was occupied by Albert AVhite,"^ 
Esq. In TJie Boston Post-Boy and Advertiser of May 20, • 
1765, is the following : 

" By order of the General Court : 

On Wednesday the 22d of the present month of May, at 4 o'clock p.m. at 
the h©use of Mr. Foster, Inholder in Plimouth, will he exposed to sale by 
publick auction, several tracts of land in the County of Plimouth, viz ; one 
tract formerly belonging to Jtremink Hatch, lying in Hanover, one tract on 
the Northerly side of Assonet River in Middleborough, formerly belonging 
to Benj. Booth & Jsaac Pierce, jun., two tracts in the town of Rochester, &c. 
all which several tracts were mortgaged to the Commissioners for the 
hundred thousand pounds loan, in the year 17 IG, and judgment has been 
recover'd and possession taken for the Province." 

In 1814 the Hatch Mill, which for nearly a century nad been 
used as a grist-mill and saw-mill, was bought by a stock com- 
pany with a capital of $20,000, and a cotton factory erected. 
Among other owners were Nathaniel Cushing, father of Elijah, 
who lived at the old place now standing at Cushing's Corner, 
Hanson, Abishai Stetson, ftither of Nahum of Bridge water, 
prominent in the iron business for the past fifty years, and 
Chas. Josselyn, father of Mrs. Hira Bates of 80. Hanover. 
Later, Thomas Hobart, who lived in Hanson, near East Bridge- 
water, had an interest. They made common cotton sheeting 



* He was afterwards. associated with Benj. Stetson, 
t Son of Edward, see Delano and Foster Yards. 
X Part of whicb is now Hanover. 



22 COTTON FACTOHY ON THE DRINKWATER RIVER. 

and shirting. The people in the town and in the towns 
of Hanover, Pembroke and Marshfield, had private looms, and 
used to weave, obtaining the cotton yin-n from the factory. The 
small amount of money received for weaving was the principal in- 
come of the women of Hanson and its vicinity. The work was done 
by the families of the best people, and the daughters were not 
too proud to toil day by day and earn the pennies that formed 
the nucleus, in some cases, of independent fortunes later. They 
were [)aid so much per yard for the work. At Squire Joseph 
Smith's* they had two or three looms and his daughters wove 
after his death. At Gad Hitchcock's they had two looms. Tlie 
llass. Gazette and Boston JVetvs-letter, Boaton, April 11, (1765) 
states that : 

"The Rev. Mr. Gad Hitchcock, of Pembroke, is chosen by the Ancient 
and Honorable Artillery Company to preach the Sermon at the Anniversary 
of the Election of Officers for that Company on the first Monday in June 
next," 

At Isaac Bowen Bowker's, father of Dr. Bo wen Bowker, 
there was one loom. Noah Bonney's family also wove. The 
Company ceased giving out w^ork after a time and put a power 
loom into the factory. They also owned a store and a boarding 
house, which were run in connection with their business. 
Nahum Stetson was in the store when about nineteen years old, 
and went from there to Lazelle, Perkins & Co., where he has 
been nearly ever since, Ethan Allen Stetson, (brother of 
Nahum), Isaiah Perry and his brother, E. Y. Perry, Esq., were 
clerks afterward — think Isaiah Perry was owner at one time. 
Business was carried on at this store until the fire of 1852. The 
superintendents of the factory at ditierent times were Job 
Luther, Luther Faxon, L. B. Hatch, A. M. Hobart and others. 
The business gradually decreased and l)ut little was done after 
1830, owing to the competition of the larger factories at Fall 
River, Lawrence, Manchester, and other places. During the 
panic of 1837, business at Hobart's tack-factory in Hanson 
became very dull, and Ezra Phillips, who had been working 
there, hired room and power in the cotton mill, and during the 
winter of 1837-38 manufiictured shoe-pegs. Later in 1838 
Cobb & Cushing occupied the building as a saw-mill, and the 
boarding-house w-as occupied by Theodore Cobb as a private 
residence. In 1852 the factory, store, and residence were 
burned to the ground. Soon after Elijah Cushing erected a 



* Grandfather of Joseph Smith, who was engineer of the Hanover Branch Railway. 



MiG hill's iron works. 23 

saw-mill on the same dam and, together with his sons, Georg-e 
and Theodore, carried on the business until this mill was burned 
al)ont ten years ago. A few years ago E. Phillips & Sons 
bought the privilege which they have since used as a reservoir 
for the factory below. In Dec, 1888, this firm bought a factory 
at Brockton, where they now run thirty-six tack and nail 
machines, employing thirteen or foui-teen hands, with a pros- 
pect of increasing the production this year. They intend 
eventually to move their lirockton factory to the al)ove priv- 
ilege, which is often spoken of now as Teague's Bridge (because 
of its close proximity to said bridge), but if that site is found 
to be undesiralile, they will move from Brockton to their works 
at South Hanover instead. 

A little more than half-way from this latter privilege to that 
of Stetson's at King St., there tlows into Drinkwater River, 
Torrey's Brook, a small stream rising in the woods back of the 
Cemetery at Centre Hanover, and flowing across Main, Hanover, 
Grove, Myrtle and Winter streets into the river. 

About seventy rods east of King St. on the Drinkwater River 
there formerly stood a fulling-mill, improved many years ago 
])y Bailey Hatch, and others. About the middle of the eight- 
teenth century, Caleb and Robert Barker had a foundry here. 
From The Boston Gazette or' Weekly Advertiser for January 
15, 1754, the following is taken : 

"Caleb and Robert Barker in Hanover: Cast bells for Meeting- 
Houses and other uses, from a smaller to a greater, even to one of two thous- 
and weight ; cheaper than they can be imported : By whom all persons may 
be supplied on reasonable terms." 

About 1830, Joshua Barker, a descendant of Caleb and 
Robert, erected an iron foundry on the old site, at which stoves 
hollow ware, and machinery of diflferent kinds were cast. The 
foundry was torn down a long time ago and a little tack-factory 
was built by Barstow & Russell. This building is now gone 
and the vacant site is owned by Chas. T. Stetson. Just al)ove 
this site, where King St. crosses the river, is a dam with a 
large water privilege and buildings now known as Stetson's 
Machine Works. 

About 17]0,"Mighill's Works," or the " Drinkwater Iron 
Works, ' were erected here by one Mighill, probably a son of 
Rev. Mr. Mighill, who was settled over the South or Second 
Society in Scituate in 1G84, though little is known of him or 



24 DRINKWATER KIVER. 

his business. Tradition says that he manufactured iron from 
bog ore, which he dug at "Cricket Hole," near the Third 
Herring Brook, and in the low grounds in the vicinity of Dam 
Brook, where it can now be obtained in moderate quantities. 
These works have had many proprietors and tradition says 
again that, during the Revolution, cannon were cast here and 
carried down to the old fulling-mill near the iron foundry and 
tested, and that Tilson Gould was killed by the bursting of one 
of these guns, the pieces of which are said to be still lying in 
the bottom of the old furnace pond. About this time Hanover 
was very prosperous and in 17"J4, there were within the town 
of Hanover 3 saw-mills, 6 grist-mills, 2 forges, 1 anchor shop, 
1 fulling-mill. 

About the year 1816, Chas. and Orrin Josselyn, Timothy 
Rose, Calvin Bates, and others, erected a forge on this dam. 
Beside the forge there were a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a box-board 
mill and a shingle-mill, all owned by the same company. 
Messrs. Bates & Holmes finally came into sole possession of 
these works and usually employed tive hands in the forge mak- 
ing bar iron, and from fifty to sixty tons of anchors annually. 
Edwin Barstow was the last anchor maker in town, and the last 
anchors manufactured in town, only a few years ago, were made 
here under his supervision. The property is now owned by 
Charles T. Stetson and run as a machine manufacturing shop, 
making rubber hose covering, electric light wires, etc. 

At the head of this pond or privilege, which is the largest in 
town, Longwater Brook forms a junction with Drinkwater 
River. Drinkwater being one of the sources of North River, 
should be traced to its source. It rises in Weymouth, just over 
the Rockland line, flows across the north-west corner of Rock- 
land into Abington, where it is known as French's stream, then 
back through Rockland into Hanover, where it receives Long- 
water Brook, the name Longwater being the English interpre- 
tation of the original Indian name for the stream. About 
eighty rods up the Longwater stream, where it crosses Circuit 
St., is Magoun's Bridge, formerly called Ellis' Bridge, built 
before 1(576. Here was located one of the oldest mills built in 
tlie Colony, but which, tradition says, was burned by the Indians 
during their famous raid into Scituate in 1(J76. Longwater 
Brook is one of the more copious indirect tributaries to North 
River, and it attracted the attention of the settlers at a very 
early date. Little is known of the first mill built there, but 



DRENKWATER AND " ELIHAB'S " MILLS. 25 

tradition says it was built by a ]\Ir. Wade, who became dis- 
couraged when it was destroyed hy the Indians, and moved to 
New Hampshire. It was rebuilt and received the cognomen of 
"Drinkwater" for the reason, it is said, that no ardent spirits 
were used by the builders during its construction. That a mill 
was built in this locality is certain. 

"On May 7, 169(>, Edward Wanton, Robert Orchard, John 
Rodgers, Thomas Macomber, Timothy White, and Joseph 
House held together as tenants in common and undivided, a 
tract of land lying at and near a place called Drinkwater, and 
adjoining to a tract of land formerly granted to Timothy 
Hatherly, of which they proceed to divide the part that was on 
the southerly side of the saw-mill, called Drinkwater Mill. 
Wanton and Orchard had one half, and Rodgers, Macomber, 
White and House the other half." The mill is not spoken of as 
part of the property divided, but some of the land is mentioned 
as belonging to the mill. On Nov. 12, 1711, the remainder of 
the land was divided and the first divided part is referred to as 
the "mile of land." At this date Wanton appears to have 
become possessor of Orchard's share, so Wanton had half. 
White had died, so the other half went to Rodgers, Macomber, 
House, and White's heirs. It would be interesting to know the 
history of this ancient mill, but almost unpardonable neglect 
has left it and much more history of our town to fast fade away 
to tradition, and the scattered fragments of old wills, deeds, 
and other papers, that occasionally come to light, are all we 
have in many instances. 

Beaver Dam Brook rises east of Plain St., which it crosses. 
It also crosses Hanover St. and enters Longwater Brook a 
little way above the old mill. 

The next tributary to the Longwater stream is the Studley 
Mill Brook, which has two sources, one rising in the north 
part of Rockland, just on the Hingham line, and the other in 
the extreme north-west part of Hanover. This brook flows 
south-east and where it crosses Pleasant St. near the West 
Hanover Railway station, there is a mill. The first mill erected 
here, of which we have anv account, was improved by Eliab 
Studley about 1730. It was known as " Elihab's Mill." Barry 
says, " He was a noted tavern-keeper, his house being a favorite 
place of public resort." The following is taken from The 
£oston Gazette aiid Country Journal : 



26 Absalom's eock and the "money hole." 

"Monday last, (June 16, 1766), ^Ir. Eliab Studley of Hanover was- 
killed by a Flash of Lightning." 

Another paper says : 

"We hear from Hanover that on the] 6th, Ult. (July, 1766), as Mr. Stndely 
and his Son were returning from his Wood Lot with a Cart Load of Wood, 
a Thunder Storm came on, and his Son taking a Tree for Shelter : wa& 
instantly struck Dead by a Flash of Lightning.— T?ie Mass. Gazette <fc Boston 
News Letter. 

Later the site was occupied by Xahiim Stetson as a shinsrle 
mill and known as Stetson's Mill. It is now owned by Lot 
Phillips, but is often called " Studley's Mill." The brook for 
a little way follows Hanover St., which it crosses below the 
extensive establishment of Lot Phillips & Co., (of which firm 
E. y. Perry, Esq. and Albert Culver are the Co.), and enters 
Longwater Brook a few rods north of where the railroad crosses 
it. The above establishment, located near a branch of Xorth 
River deserves especial notice as being one of the largest in town. 
Their buildings are extensive, including a saw-mill, grist-mill 
and box-factory. About thirty-five men are employed here. 
The amount of business done is 150,000 boxes made annually, 
1,2.5C),000 feet of lumber cut into boards, and the grist-mill 
grinds 200.000 bushels of Sfrain annually. 

The next tributary to Longwater Brook is Bailey's Brook, 
which flows into it about fifty rods south of Cedar St. Bailey's 
Brook rises east of ]Main St. on a line with J. Brooks's Mill, 
and flows south, crossing Main St., and receiving Stetson's 
Brook just before crossing Cedar vSt. Stetson's Brook rises 
in Hell Swamp, east of the old highway, and flows south across 
Union St., then west across Main St., then north-west across 
Cedar St. and into Bailey's Brook. Following up the Long- 
water stream about three hundred rods from where Bailey's 
Brook enters it, we find another tributary which has its rise in 
Xorwell and flows south. About sixty rods below where it 
crosses Webster St., at the foot of the pond, is the site of an 
old mill. This is a historic locality. The first mill there was 
erected as early as 1723. The third was erected by Deacon John 
Brooks in IS.51. Here he sawed from {SO.OOO to lOO.oOO 
feet of inch and half-inch pine boards annually, besides pine 
and oak plank, joist and timber. The mill which stood in the 
woods near the Hatherly line has passed from view. The dam 
is still there, but the pond is growing up with birches. It is 
one of the most romantic spots in Hanover. A large rock near 



SOURCE OF NOETH EIVER. 27 

here, the largest in town, called Absalom^s JRocJc, was occupied 
for a time as a dwelling by a hermit, a fissure in the rock foiTn- 
ing protection. Near the site of the old mill is also the '^ Money 
hole," where, years ago, men, in the darkness of night, dug for 
Capt. Kidd's treasures. Al)out half a mile west of this old 
mill site, and on the Longwater stream, is another. Brooks 
Mill, built originally by Joseph Brooks in 1820, and occupied 
as a orist-mill until 1833, then as a shin<rle-mill. It was here 
that David Prouty polished the first cast iron ploughs ever 
made, he being the inventor, * Two mills have been burned on 
this spot within a dozen years. Albert G. Mann owns and 
occupies the present mill, which he runs as a saw-mill. 

Following the stream up, an old grist-mill used to stand 
where it crosses the junction of Webster and North sts. It 
was built by Benj. ^lann, probably about 17()5 and was an old- 
fashioned mill with a great water-wheel, requiring an immense 
quantity of water to turn it. Later it was owned by his son 
Caleb Mann. The privilege is now oAvned by Albert G. Mann, 
great-grand-son of Benj., and used by him as a reservoir for his 
sawmill farther down. Following up Longwater Brook, we 
find a small tributary, the last, a few rods above the mill. From 
here it flows from a northwesterly direction, where we find its 
source in the woods near the Eockland line. Thus we have 
come to the last source of North Kiver, and now we will ga 
back to the river itself. 



* See Barry's History of Hanover. 



CHAPTER II. 



NORTH RIVER— (continued). 



ITS BRIDGES AND FERRIES, AND THE INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE 
BEEN LOCATED ON ITS LOWER TRIBUTARIES ; ALSO, VESSELS 
BUILT UPON ITS BANKS IN EARLY TIMES AT YARDS UNKNOWN. 



THERE is little to record of interest relative to that part of 
North River between the " Crotch," so called, and Bar- 
stow's Bridge, the abutments of which can now be seen less 
than 50 feet above North River Bridge. In the Colony Records 
the following entry is made under date of 1656 : 

" William Barstow of Scituate covenanted to make a good and 
sufficient bridge for horse and foot over the North River, a little 
above the Third Herring Brooke, at a place called ' Stoney Reache,' 
and to lay out and clear the way towards the bay as far as Hugh's 
cross brooke ; to receive £.12 in current country pay." 

Prior to this time the river was crossed at Luddam's Ford. 
"William Barstow also received £20 for keeping the said bridge 
in repair from 1662 to 1682. This latter year the Colony Court 
ordered a cart l)ridge to be built over North River, at Barstow's 
Bridge, at the expense of three towns : Scituate to pay £10 ; 
Duxbury £5 ; Marshfield £5. Barstow's Bridge was used until 
1829, when North River Bridge was constructed. The road 
over Barstow's Bridge liecame the old Turnpike Road from 
Boston to Plymouth, and thousands of times have the old stages, 
loaded with passengers and freight, dashed down the hill, over 
the bridge, and up the other side, the horses leaping almost out 
of their traces as they sped up to the Quaker Meeting-house 
Shoals. 



OLD STAGE LINE. 29^ 

Quaker Meeting-house Shoals were so named by Ichabocl 
Stui'tevant, Jr., because the territory was so bleak and cold in 
winter. It included the space between Brick-kiln Lane on the 
Old Turnpike Road to Plymouth and John Stetson's gateway, 
just below and opposite the present Quaker Church. Stages 
running between Boston and Plymouth went over these shoals 
on their way to Boston at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and to Plymouth 
9 and 11 a.m. The drivers used to say it was the " coldest 
place they struck " between Boston and Plymouth. Robert B. 
Thomas's Farmers' Almanac for 1806 says : 

" Plymouth mail stage sets off from Daggett's Inn (late King's Inn, Mar- 
ket Square, Boston,) every Tuesday and Friday at five in the morning, and 
arrives there at five in the evening of the same day (through Hingham 
and Hanover) ; leaves Plymouth every Monday and Thursday at five in the 
morning, arriving in Boston at seven in the evenings of the same days." 

In 1829 the Road Commissioners for the County agreed to 
assess the County for one-quarter of the expense of a stone 
bridge, which was erected just below the old Barstow Bridge, 
and has since been known as the North River Bridge. The 
middle pier of this bridge was taken entirely from one rock, 
that used to form a part of the wall in the field just below the 
present residence of E. Q. Sylvester. About ten or twelve 
years ago North River Bridge was rebuilt and raised, and the 
hills on each side cut down to a more even grade. In 1699, 

" The town ordered that the undivided land lying between the 
Country Road and Daniel Turner's, and the Barstcw's land and the 
North River, should lie common for the town's use." 

This was probably at North River Bridge, and it would be 
interesting to know if the town ever conveyed or deeded it 
away. The tide rises three feet at North River Bridge. The 
distance from the bridge to the sea in an air line is not over 
seven or eight miles, but by the river it is fully eighteen miles. 

The first tributary to the North River below North River 
Bridge is the Third Herring Brook, near the mouth of which 
is a foot bridge, known for probably over one hundred years as- 
the Rainbow Bridge, and used by the ship carpenters to reach 
the Hanover and Fox Hill Yards. The Third Herring Brook 
is about five miles long, and forms the boundary line between 
Norwell and Hanover. It rises in Valley Swamp, near Hing- 
ham, and flows in a southeasterly direction. Its first tributary 
is the AssiNippi or "Rocky Water" stream. Ale wives origi- 
nally ascended the Third Herring BrooK to Valley Swamp. la 



30 THIRD HERRING BROOK. 

1829 there were on this stream three o'ri.st mills, three saw mills, 
and one shingle mill. Just below the Assinippi stream on the 
Herring Brook are Jacobs' Mills. These mills have been in 
the Jacobs family over a century and a half. Joshua Jacobs, 
born in 1702, and his brother, Dr. Joseph, l)orn in 1707, were 
earl}^ proprietors of the saw and grist mills erected here. These 
mills are now owned by Benjandn, Barton, and Charles Jacobs, 
and are the oldest in the vicinity. In the Boston Evening Post, 
under date of March 30, 1772, there appears the following : 

" Married, at Newport, Mr. James Jacobs, of Seituate, in this Province, 
to Miss Deborah Richmond, daughter of the late Capt. Perez Richmond, of 
Dartmouth." 

About 1830 there was an extensive manufacture of bricks on 
the south side of Jacobs' mill pond by the fiimilies of Jacobs 
and Collamore. Below the old pond at Winslow's Bridge 
beavers built dams many years ago ; also at Valley Swamp, 
and a half mile west of the old Nathaniel Brooks place. Gush- 
ing Hill is a half mile east of Jacobs' Mill. Capt. Jacobs' 
cartway, so called, in 1720 was over Beaver Dam at Valley 
Swamp. Rocky Swajip is located south of the Herring Brook, 
below Jacobs' Mills. 

The next mills we come to on the Herring Brook are John 
Clopjfs^ located at the foot of the pond, just al>OA'e Mill street. 
Large quantities of lumber have been sawed here for the trunk 
and box factories of Hanover and Seituate. John Clapp, son 
of the above John, now owns the mill. 

T. J. Gardner's saw and grist mills are located on the Third 
Herring Brook, not far below the Clapp Mill. Long and short 
boards are sawed here now. This site has been used a great 
many years for mill purposes. Tradition says that Benjamin 
Curtis, who was born in 1667, built the Curtis Mills near the 
site of the present mills. After the Curtises, T. J. Gardner, 
who married into the Curtis family, owned these mills until 
they fell into the hands of their present owner, Samuel H. 
Church, late one of Hanover's selectmen. He married Mr. 
Gardner's daughter. Barry says " the bridge between Curtis' 
and Clapp's Mills, over Third Herring Brook, was built as early 
as 1690." 

We next come to the south branch of the Third Herring 
Brook. This is Hugh's Cross, or Silver Brook, which rises 
in the woods east of Grove street, Centre Hanover, flows across 



\ 




s ir 



c - 



o > 

S c 

3 '^ 



9 . . 



Hugh's cross brook. 31 

Main street, northwest of the Cemetery, then running parallel 
with Silver street, it crosses Washington street, near the resi- 
dence of the late John Curtis, a little way above which it takes 
a sudden turn and flows east into the Herring Bro(jk. There is 
but one mill on Hugh's Cross Brook. Deane refers to a new 
saw mill, in 1678, above ''Old Pond at Curtis'." What mill 
this refers to is not clear, but it was probably the Benjamin 
Curfi's Mill, on the Third Herring Brook. Church's Hill, ou 
the Plymouth Road in Hanover, is a half mile west of Hugh's 
Cross Brook. 

Hon. Jedediah Dwelley, who has been one of Hanover's 
selectmen for over thirty years, and who is to-day the most 
valual)le man to the town of all her inhabitants, writes as 
follows : 

"Curtis' Mill, on Hugh's Cross Brook, was an old mill when I 
was a boy, and either fell or was torn down thirty years or more 
ago." 

The dam is in a fair state of preservation ; the site of the old 
pond is now grown with vegetation. The propeity belongs to 
the estate of the late John Curtis. Thomas Tindale, of South 
Hanover, has recently completed an extensive cranberry bog at 
the head of the pond. 

Returning to the Third Herring Brook, we come next to a trib- 
utary from 'isov\;e\\, ^largarefs, no called, or Wildcat Brook, 
sometimes called Slab Brook or Sltv^ken Log Brook. There 
was a grist mill on this brook in 1829, which was built about 
1795 by Elijah Turner; but since the death of his son, Elijah 
Bailey Turner, it has not been used. The original name of this 
brook was Margaret's Brook, so named for Marijaret Proutv, 
who lived to a great age and died unmarried. She was a 
daughter of Richard, who was in Scituate in 1670, and sister 
of Edward, who had a house on the west side of the brook. 
Margaret's Brook rises in a swamp between Otis and Simon 
Hills, Scituate, and flows into the Third Herring Brook not far 
from the Old Indian Trail. The next point of interest on the 
Third Herring Brook is the site of one of the Jimt saw mills in 
the Colony, located at the Old Indian Path, foot of the Old 
Pond and Old Pond Swamp, which is said to have been a large 
reservoir for this mill, and which is now covered with a heavy 
growth of timber. The following is an extract from the Colony 
Records ; 



32 ONE OF THE FIIIST SAW MILLS 

SAW MILL REGULATIONS OF THE YEAR 1 656. 

" At a full town meeting of the town of Scituate, Nov. lo, i6£;6, 
free liberty was this day granted to any man or men of the town to 
set up a saw mill upon the third herring brook, as near the North 
River as conveniently it may be, on these conditions, viz. : that in 
case any of the townsmen do bring any timber into the mill to be 
sawed, the owners of the ISIill shall saw it, whether it be for boards 
or plank, before thev saw any of their own timber, and they are to 
have the one-half for sawing of the other half." 

" And in case any man of the town that doth not bring any tim- 
ber to the mill to be sawed shall want any boards, for his own par- 
ticular use, the owner of the mill shall sell him boards for his own 
use, so many as he shall need, for the country pay. at three shillings. 
and six pence an hundred inch sawn ; but in case the men of the 
town do not supply the mill with timber to keep it at work, the own- 
ers of the mill shall have liberty to make use of any timber upon the 
common to saw for their benefit. The said saw mill to be built 
within three months from this date ; otherwise this order to be void. 

James Torrey, Toivn Clerk.'''' 

The same year Cornet Robert Stutson, with ]Mr. Hatherly 
and Joseph Tilden, built a saw mill on tlie above site and flowed 
a large tract of land, since called tlie " Old Pond S\yamj)." This 
mill was burned by the Indians in 1676, on their raid into Scit- 
uate during King Phillip's War. The dam still remains. James 
T. Tolman and his brother Samuel luive pieces of the charred 
wood of the old mill carefully preserved. . A^'IXSLOw's Bridge, 
so named for Nathaniel AVinslow, who resided there as early as 
1750, is about four rods below the site of the old mill. It was 
called AVinslow's Bridge in the records as early as 1765. A 
few rods below Winslow's Bridge is located Tollman's Tack 
Factory, now fast going to decay, though the machinery inside 
was recently in good condition. This factory was built in 1^37 
by Col. Samuel Tolman. It is now owned by his sons, Samuel 
and James T. , and has been used as a tack factory ever since it 
was erected. Colonel Tolman also built a box-board and shin- 
gle mill on the Hanover side of the stream, which was burned 
several years ago. Next below the Tolman mills and factory 
is a mw mill, now owned by Charles Simmons of Norwell. It 
may have been the mill site of the original Jonah's Mill, and 
was owned and run twenty-five years ago by Pratt & Lapham. 
The Tiffany Pond, which has been a favorite resort for the 
young of many generations in the winter time, for skating, is 
next below. This pond was named for Recompense Tifl'any, 



JONAH AND TIFFANY MILLS. 33 

who, ho-\vever, was not the first OAvner of the property. Tlie 
first buihliiig erected here was a grist mill l)y Charles Stock- 
bridge, grandfather of David 8tockl»ridge, of Hanover.* 
Cricket Hole, so called in 1(140, from which bog iron ore was 
obtained for Mighill's and Bardin's iron works, is a short dis- 
tance west of Tiftany's. In 1673 the Town's Committee of 
Lands offered a premimn of " 30 acres of land to any person 
who, within six months, should erect a grist mill on the Third 
Herring Brook, and enirage and tend the mill for fourteen 
years." Charles Stockbridge accepted the proposals, and 
erected his mill in 1674. The property descended to his 
sons, Charles and Thomas, and in 161I2 Thomas sold one half 
of the mill to John Bryant and Samuel Stetson. In 1729 
Thomas's son Thomas sold " one quarter of the saw mill " to 
Jonah Stetson, Samuel Stetson having sold one-quarter of the 
"corn mill " to the said Jonah Stetson in 1726. It was tlien 
called Jonah's Mill, which name it was known by until it 
received the cognomen Tijfa)n/. Tack works were erected 
about 1830, near tlie site of these mills, and the business of 
manufacturing tacks carried on by Capt. Ze})haniah Talljot and 
by John and William Salmond, brothers of Samuel and sons of 
Robert. John Tower, when about eight years old, fell through 
the floor of this mill while it was building, and hung on one of 
the sills, and over the rocks, until he was rescued by his brother 
David. In 1<S38 Samuel Salmond, f who had spent the earlier 
part of his life in Maine, in the South, and in Cuba, settled 
permanently in Hanover, and engaged in the tack business at 
the Tiflany factory. Here he employed fifteen male and five 
female hands, and run from twenty to twenty-five machines, 
using about sixty tons of tack plates per year. In May, 1859, 
Samuel Salmond took into partnership his son-in-law, Edmund 
Q. Sylvester, and did business under the firm name of Samuel 
Salmond &, Son. About a month after Mr. Sylvester entered 
the firm ]\Ir. Salmond died, and Mr. Sylvester has since carried 
on the business alone, under the same firm name. He now 
runs twenty-six tack machines, employs sixteen male and five 
female hands, and uses one hundred and seventy-five to two 
hundred tons of iron per year. In the spring of 1884 he put 
in a high pressure thirty horse-power steam engine. In 1886, 
the flume and a portion of the hill beyond were carried away by 



* See Hanover Miscellaneous Yards. 

t See Bridge and Smith chapters for descendants. 



34 TRIBUTARIES FUOxM MARSHFIELD. 

a freshet, but the factory was soon in running order again. 
Mr. Sylvester has managed the business very successfully, and 
has a large Xev/ York trade. About forty rods below the 
Titfany, Charles Stockbridge commenced a dam, the remains of 
which can be seen at the yn-esent day. Quite a little distance 
below the Tiffany factory we come to the bridge over the Third 
Herring Brook, which connects Norwell with Hanover, near 
the residence of Capt. Elijah Barstow. The old John Palmer 
Log Bkidc4E was just below the present bridge, and was so 
named for John Palmer, supposed to be the same who came 
with the first settlers of Hingham in 1635. His house-lot was 
near tlie junction of the roads southeast of Church Hill. He left 
several descendants in Hanover and Scituate, but few, if any, of 
the male issue of his family are now left in this region. In 
1660 John Palmer covenanted with John Bryant and Humphrey 
Johnson, town agents, to build a log-way and bridge, and cover 
it with gravel, " from firm upland to firm upland." A stone 
bridge .was huiU here, by vote of the town, in 1835. It was 
re-built by So. Scituate and Hanover after the freshet of 1886, 
but the opening for the brook is not yet large enough, as the 
heavy freshet of 1888 forced the water over the bridge across 
the road. The Herring Brook flows from this point through 
fresh meadow land until it reaches the North River, receiving 
only one stream, the Copeland Tannery Brook. The old 
Tannery w^as located al)out thirty to forty rods southeast of the 
]\Iethodist Church. Smelts in large numbers ascend the Her- 
ring Brook, as far as the bridge, in the spring of the year. 

The next tributary to North River below the Third Herring 
Brook is a small brooklet from Seabury's woods. The next 
below is Robinson's Creek, later known as Schooset Creek, 
which flows into the river from the Pembroke side, just below the 
brick-kilns. The Two Mile Brook, or Fulling Mill Creek, 
flows into the river from Marshfield, east of and opposite the 
Bald Hills. A sinall stream, w'hich formed the boundary of the 
Cornet Stetson grant on the north and of the Humphrey Johnson 
on the south, is next below. Joseph Tolman had a saw mill on 
this stream about thirty years ago. The next tributary comes 
into the river from Norwell, opposite and about a quarter of a 
mile above Gravelly Beach. This stream was called Till's 
Creek as early as 1640, but later was named Dw^elley's Creek, 
after Richard Dwelley, who owned meadow land there, and died 
in 1692. The little stream that crosses the road in Norwell, 



SECOND HERRING BROOK. 35 

near Torrey's trunk factory, is called Wanton Brook, and the 
old folks used to think that witches danced on its banks at mid- 
night. Mr. Cudworth once heard a horse running behind him 
near this brook, but never discovered the horse. 

In 1785 a subscription was raised to build a bridge across the 
North River, near John Stetson's (the ancient Wanton) place. 
The town chose a committee to consult with the suljscribers, and 
to learn what kind of a bridge was proposed, and how to be kept 
in repair. The town then voted their consent, on condition 
that a sufficient draw be kept. The project failed. It was 
revived in 1827, but again failed, and it is not likely that there 
will be a bridge there for some time to come. 

The Second Herring Brook is the next tributary to the 
river, and, flowing from Norwell, enters at a point just below 
the old Chittenden yard. The Second Herring Brook is formed 
by numerous little brooklets that rise in Ridge Hill Swamp, 
Dead Swamp, and Black Pond. Herring ascended this brook 
to Black Pond until repelled by the mill-dams. Smelts now 
ascend as far as they can each year about the latter part of 
March. There used to be beaver dams on this brook, south of 
Dead Swamp. The bridge over the north branch of the Her- 
ring Brook, above Dead Swamp, was named many years ago 
BuMPAs' Bridge. Chamberlain Plain is northeast of Beaver 
Dam or Dead Swamp. Walnut Hill is west of Beaver Dam, 
on the Second Herring Brook. Spruce Savamp is south of 
Cordwood Hill and the Second Herring Brook. Spring Brook 
flows from the northwest into the Second Herring Brook. In 
1829 there were on the Second Herring Brook two grist mills, 
a saw mill, and a shingle mill. A saw mill on the east branch 
of the brook was erected in 1831 by S. A. Turner, Esq. On 
the Second Herring Brook, about a half mile from its mouth, 
there was a saw mill built in 1090 by John Bryant, a house 
carpenter, who was a freeman in Scituate in 1G39, and had a 
farm ten rods east of the mill. This mill was used as a grist 
mill later. "Bryant's Bridge, above the mill," Deane says, 
^' was not a cart bridge until 1704." Long after the above mill 
was built another grist mill was built further up the stream. 
A saw mill was erected there at a later day. This mill w^as run 
by David Torrey, in connection with his steam mill or trunk 
factory on River street, until his death in 1884. In 1658-9 a 
foot bridge was built across the Second Herring Brook, very 
near its mouth. There was a bridge there before, as, in laying 



36 oakman's ferry — union bridge. 

out the path from the Block-house to AVanton's yard, the records 
of 1G58 speak of crossing the Second Herring Brook, "where 
the old bridge did lye." 

There is a .wiall hrooMet flowing from Scituate into the river, 
not far below the mouth of the Second Herring Brook ; but the 
next point of interest of North Kiver (shipyards excepted) is 
Union Bridge. Here was a public ferry-l)oat as early as 1644, 
when it was mn by Elisha Bisby, whose house stood near the 
bridge on the west side of the river, and wdiere his son Elisha 
kept a tavern for many years. Deane sa3's there was a town 
landing at this ferry (which was called the Upper Ferry) in 
1645. At this point, North River is about seven to eight rods 
wide at ordinary tide. The " Upper Ferry " was mn by the 
Oakmans* of Marshfield until later than 1760-70, about which 
time fJohn Tolman took charge ; and he was the last ferryman 
before the bridge was built. In 1799 it was proposed by the 
Town of Scituate to build and maintain a bridge over North 
River, at OakmarCs Ferry^ jointly with Marshfield. Three 
hundred and seventy dollars were raised, l)ut the enterprise 
proved a faihire because Marshfield refused to accomplish its 
part. In ISOI a corporation formed for the ])urpose of erect- 
ing a draw-bridge, with the privilege of taking toll. Union 
Bridge Avas built soon after. The income kept the bridge in 
repair, and paid 7% interest on the money invested, until 18.50, 
when it was made a free bridge. Hatch Tilden, brother of 
Jotham and Luther Tilden of Scituate, and son of Dea. Sam- 
uel, of Marshfield, was toll collector for more than forty j^ears. 
His son Edward built vessels in Chelsea under the firm name of 
Curtis & Tilden. Hatch Tilden lived in the house next the 
bridge, on the easterly side of the road, in Marshfield. He 
married, in 1822, Hannah W., daughter of Nath. Waterman, 
who came into Marshfield about 1794. She was born in So. 
Scituate April 6, 1792, in the house afterward owned by Dr. 
Foster. Mrs. Tilden, now in her ninety-eighth year, still 
resides in the house by the bridge, where she has lived since 
her marriage. Calvin T. Phillips, of So. Hanover, Mass., 
in an article published in a recent number of "The Genealogical 
Journal," writes as follows : 

" On page 354, Deane, in his ' History of Scituate,' states that 
' Samuel Tilden (grandson of Elder Nathaniel) settled on the North 



* See chapter on North River Pilots. 



TILDEX OENEALOGY. 37 

River, ***** whose son Samuel was born 16S9 (by a first 
wife) ; his second wife was Sarah Curtis, 1694. The hitter Samuel 
married Desire Oldham, 1717, and his son Samuel was born 1718. 
1 he latter was the father of the venerable Dea. Samuel Tilden.' 
This would make the line of Samuels as follows : 

Samuel, born 1660; married 2d, Sarah Curtis, 1694. 

Samuel, born 1689; married Desire Oldham, I'Ji'J' 

Samuel, born 1718 ; married . 

Samuel, born 1739; (Deacon). 

After careful examination of all known records, I can but think 
that Deane was mistaken in this line. 

As to Samuel, born 1660, I find no trace of the ' first wife,' nor 
of any of her children ; but Marshfield town records give the birth 
of Samuel, son of Samuel and Sarah, Oct. 4, i<')95. If there had 
been a Samuel, son of a first wife, living, another child would not 
have received the same name. The same records also give the birth 
of Samuel, son of Samuel and Desire, Sept. 14, 1739, and the death 
of ' Deacon Samuel Tilden,' June, 1834, aged 95, which agrees 
with the foregoing date of birth of the child of Samuel and De- 
sire. The record in the family Bible of Dr. Calvin Tilden (son 
of Dea. Samuel) fully con'oborates the above, as it giv^es Sam- 
uel Tilden and Desire Oldham as the parents of Deacon Samuel, 
and the death of Samuel (husband of Desire) as March, 1774, aged 
78, which agrees with the birth date of Samuel, son of Samuel and 
Sarah. I find no record of any Samuel born 1718. 

I therefore conclude that, instead of the line of four Samuels, as 
given by Deane, there were but three, as follows : 

Samuel, born 1660 ; married Sarah Curtis. 
Samuel, born 1695 ; married Desire Oldham. 
Samuel, born 1739; (Deacon)." 

The children of Dea. Samuel Tilden were as follows : 1. 
Capt. Samuel, born 1765, died 1844. 2. Capt. Jotham, born 
17(57, died 1843. 3. Charles, born 1768, died 1851. 4. Elisha, 
born 1770, died 1852. 5. Benjamin, born 1772, died 1829. 
6. Dr. Calvin, born 1774, died 1832, 7. Capt. Luther, born 
1777, died 1857. 8. Mercy, born 177U, died 1817. 9. Hatch, 
born 1781. died 1861. 10. Nathan, born 1784, died 1856.* 

King's Landing is on the Norwell side of North River, below 
L^nion Bridge. A cart- way leads to it from opposite Turner 
Hatch's. 

The next tributary to North River, below L^nion Bridge, is 



* See Block-house Yard for Tilden Genealogy. 



38 doggett's ferry — little's bridge. 

Stony Brook, which flows into the river from Scituate, and, 
tliough not a long stream, at some points it is quite wide. 
Nearly opposite and a little below is Rogers' Brook, which 
rises iu Marshfield and flows along the foot of Rogers' Hill, 
below the Thomas Nelson place. Next we come to Little's 
Bridge. 

The river here is over nine rods wide, and grows wider 
below the bridge, expanding to over half a mile in width at 
Fourth Cliff Bay, formerly called New Harbor, where the 
channel divides, but unites again a mile below. Where Little's 
Bridge is now located there was a feny as early as 1637, which 
year two hundred acres of land were granted to Mr. William 
Vassal 1,* " on condition that he keepe a ferry against his farme 
toll Id. for a man and 4d. for a beast." This was then called 
New Harbor Ferry The ferry was located in front of his resi- 
dence, which Avas on "Belle House Neck," Scituate. In 1730 
this ferry was kept by Capt. John Doggett, a descendant of 
Thomas Doggett, the flrst of that name in Marshfield, who mar- 
ried Joane, widow of Thomas C'hillingworth, of Marshfield, in 
1654. After Captain Doggett took the ferry it Avas called Dog- 
gett's Ferry. In 1755, Capt. John Doggett's son, Capt. 
John, Jr., then only fifteen years of age, kept the ferry. 
Thomas, the first, bought in 1659 a farm Avhere he lived until 
his death in 161)2. This farm was a portion of the upland 
overlooking the mouth of the North River and the extensive 
view of the ocean beyond. It Avas the first farm on the Marsh- 
field side of the river, Avith one of the dividing lines starting 
opposite the point Avhere the North and South Rivers enter the 
sea. Out on the marsh opposite the upland there is an oasis of 
cedars, old and gnarled, called Doggett's Cedars, while 1)eyond 
is Doggett's Beach names av hich are perpetuated by old deeds, 
and knoAvn to a fcAV of the older inhabitants as being so called 
for the family, Avho for many years resided here. Among the 
descendants of Thomas Doggett Avere many who Avere " mari- 
ners," and of them the folloAving Avere prominent : Samuel 
Doggett, named for his father, and a grandson of Thomas, Avas 
the first of the family called " mariner," and he began sailing 
from North River about the year 1700. His homestead Avas a 
piece of upland containing thirty acres of land, together with 
five acres of marsh, now called Bryant's Pasture, Avhich is 
located near Avhere the railroad bridge crosses the river, and 



* See iJriggs' Ship Yard. 



DOGGETT FAMILY. 39 

was bounded on one side by the river, " beginning at ye mouth 
of ye great creek by ye North River. ' He bought two lots of 
land in Marshfield about the time he purchased his homestead 
in 1710, and they were spoken of as adjacent to Pudder Whakf 
Brook, which doubtless suargests the name of one of the North 
River wharves. Samuel Doggett was Town Treasurer of Marsh- 
field for several years, and prominent in the shipping interests 
of the river from which he sailed. He Avas interested in the 
settlement of Maine, and combined with Boston capitalists and 
used his vessels to carry families there to settle. Many of 
these were Marshfield people, who doubtless sailed for their 
new home from North River, The growth of Boston, and jNIr. 
Doggett's increasing interests there, led him to leave INIarshfield 
in 1744 and make his home in that growing commercial centre, 
where he soon afterward died. At the time of his death he 
owned the sloops "Dolphin" and " Swan," valued at £1100 
and £750 respectively. He had a brother, Ebenezer Doggett, 
also a sea captain, living at one time in Plymouth and after- 
ward in Boston, whose landed interests in Marshfield often took 
him to the vicinity of the North River. Like his brother 
Samuel, he was well acquainted with the Atlantic coast, from 
Newfoundland to the West Indies, to which, as Avell as to the 
intermediate ports he often sailed. Capt. Samuel Doggett had 
a son Noah, also a sea captain, who was born in jNhirshtield and 
removed to Boston with his father. Capt. Noah Doggett sailed 
from Boston to Atlantic and European ports until the time of 
the Revolution, when he retired and si)ent his declining years 
in the town of Boston, where he died in 1805. His grandson, 
Nathaniel B. Dogget, lives in the mansion house corner of Hol- 
lis and Tremont streets, Boston. The branch of the Doggett 
family who kept the ferry resided in Scituate, and their descend- 
ants are in Nova Scotia. John Doggett, first of "Doggett's 
Ferry," had a brother Thomas Doggett, of Marshfield, who 
was a yeoman, but was also interested in shipping, as appears 
from the following : 

"Jan. 13, 1732-3. Isaac Little of Pembroke receipts to Thomas 
Doggett Jr. in full for the earnings of 1-3 and 1-4 part of the sloop 
' Middleboro ' the past year, a fishing voyage and also what he was 
to allow for his berth and the berth of Nathaniel Stetson." 

A toll-bridge was erected at Doggett's Ferry in 1825, and 
called Little's Bridge, from a family of that name who lived 
near, on the Marshheld side. This was made a free ])ridge 
March 20, 1865. 



40 WM. vassall's oyster bank. 

Just below Little's Bridge, "William Yassall planted some 
o.ysters in 1(540, making an oyster bank or l)ed. The oldest 
man now living in tlie neighliorhood does not rememl)er that 
any oysters Avere ever taken from the river, though fresh-water 
chnns are very plenty along the l)anks as far uj) as Chapman's 
Landing, in Hanover. The inference seems to l)e that the oys- 
ter was not common to this vivev in early times. The following 
is from the Colony Records : 

" 1639, December. Licence of liberty is granted to Mr. William 
Vassall to make an ovster hank in the North River sixty rods in 
lens^th and across the said river in some convenient place near his 
farm there called the ' VV^est Newland ' and to appropriate it to his 
own use forbidding all others to use the same without his licence." 

Mr. Vassall built a bridge over Rotten Marsh Creek before 
1(53(). AVilliam Vassall died in the Parish of 8t. Michael, in 
the Island of Barl)adoes, in 1655.* The following items rela- 
ti\e to the Vassall family are taken from newspapers of early 
dates. From T/te Boston Evening Post, Jan. 28, 1760 : 

" On Thursday morning died Mrs. Anne Vassall, the agreeable consort 
of ^^'m. Yassall, Esq. We hear her funeral will be attended this after- 
ni)on." 

Massachusetts Spy, Feb. 20, 1112 : 

"Died, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, widow, sister to Wm. Vassall, Esq." 

Massachusetts Spy, April 30, 1772 : 

" Married, Mr. Richard Smith, merchant to Miss Lucretia Frances Vas- 
sall, daughter of Wm. Vassall, Esq." 

Deane, in his " History of Scituate," says, "we have often 
regretted that the town was not called after the name of Hath- 
erly." It certainly does seem strange that the inhalntants of 
So. Scituate should go so far out of their way as to name their 
town Norwell, when they have so many debts of honor to pay 
to the men who have made the town what it is to-day. None 
are more prominent among these than Timothy Hatherly, AVil- 
liam Vassall, the Cushings, the Otises, the Cud worths, the 
A\'antons, the Stetsons, and others, whose intelligence and 
benevolence have, years ago, w^on for their names a prominent 
place in the town. 



* Historical Soc. Papers, Vol. IV. See also Deane's History of Scituate for a full 
account of this distinijuished maa. 



FIRST SAW MLIL IN THE COLONY. 41 

We next come to the Railroad Bridge, which is at the time 
of writing inexcusably without a draw. The next point of 
interest below the Raih'oad Bridge is Will's Island. 

Tlie hist tril)utaiy to North River from Scituate is the First 
Herring Brook, which rises in George Moore's Pond and 
Swamp (or Town Swamp) and Brushy Hill Swamp, in the 
central part of the town, and flows into North River at New 
Harbor marshes. Its whole length is scarcely three miles. 
Until mills were erected on this Herring Brook, alewives 
a^icended as far as George Moore's Pond, and, as the stream 
was narrow, they were easily taken with nets. There were in 
early times beaver dams on the Herring Brook at the ancient 
fulling mill. Long jNIarsh, so called in KUO, was on the First 
Herring Brook above the mills. George Moore's Savamp and 
Bridge, on the south bank of the Herring Brook, were so 
named for George Moore, who came into Scituate from Ply- 
mouth, and in 1()42 owned a large tract of land near Stock- 
bridge's Mill Pond. His hou-^e was on the road from the mill 
to George Moore's brook on the northeast side, and near the 
brook. He died suddenly in 1677. Jury's verdict: 

" That George Moore came to his death by a fainting fit or a sud- 
den stopping of his breath. Rhodolphus Ellmes, Fore77iany 

George Moore's Bridge w^as erected about 1653. 

Leaving this locality, and following the course of the First 
Herring Brook, we next come to the Clapp Mills. James Tor- 
rey erected a Clothing jNIill here in 1653. His house stood in 
the Nj:al Field, ten rods south of the gate to the road that leads 
to Hobart's Landing. Samuel Clapp occupied this mill in 1690, 
and many years later his son, Capt. John Clapp, had a grist 
mill and fulling mill at the same spot. On the Herring Brook, 
about a half mile below this site, was built a saw mill prior to 
1646 by Isaac Stedman, \\\\o was in Scituate as early as 1637, 
and was later a merchant in Boston. He died in 1678. This 
was probal)ly the fivf^t saw mill erected in the colony. In 1646 
Isaac Stedman sold his house (which stood ten rods south of 
the dam), land, and saw mill to George Russell, previously of 
Hingham. In 1656 John Stockbridge * purchased of George 
Russell one half the mill privilege, and together they erected a 
grist mill. John left to his son, Charles Stockbrida'e, his half 



* The common ancestor of the Stock bridges, who located on the Third Herring Brook 
and in Hanover. See Deaue's History of Scituate. 



42 "the old oaken bucket." 

of the grist mill at Scituate, and Charles purchased, in 1605, 
George Kussell's half. The sons of Charles, and their descend- 
ants, fell heirs to the property, which has always heen known 
as Stockbkidge's Mills. There was a bridge across the First 
Herring Brook at this point about 1640, and in 1670 the town, 
having obtained permission of Charles Stockbridge, voted "tiiat 
the common roade shall pass over his mill dam." Lemuel and 
Sanuiel A. Turner began the manufacture of nails in their fac- 
tory on the First Herring Brook in 1825, and in 1829 there 
was one nail factory and one grist mill in operation on this 
brook. 

The First Herring Brook flows through that delightful part 
of Scituate referred to by Sanmel Woodworth in his poem, 
"The Old Oaken Bucket." Here is the "deep tangled wild- 
wood," "the brook and the meadow," "the cataract," "the 
mill," and not far from the mill is the residence of Mr. John 
Northey, the old homestead of Woodworth, and the Avell in 
which the "Old Oaken Bucket" hung. Charles O. Ellms, in 
the South Shore Herald, in October, 1885, gives two versions 
of the circumstances which inspired the poem, as follows : 

" When Woodworth was sitting in his office one sultry afternoon, feeling' 
thirsty, one of his friends, a tailor, went out and procured a bottle of 
Falernian. After both had drunk, ' There,' said the poet, ' that is the best 
thing I ever drank.' The tailor hung his head and said, 'Not so, 1 know 
one thing that bea's it. When I was a boy after mowing I would go and 
draw the old oaken bucket from the well and drink the cold water. That 
excels this.' 

But the one to be relied upon, says Mr. Ellms. is by his old friend, Geo. 
P. Morris, who, with the poet, established the New York Mirror. Morris 
afterwards established with N. P. Willis the Home Journal, and in the latter 
paper gives an account which reads as follows : — ' The Old Oaken Bucket 
was written in the spring or summer of 1817. The family were living in 
Duane street. The poet came home to dinner one very warm day, having 
walked from his office, somewhere near the foot of Wall street. Being 
somewhat heated with the exercise, he poured out a glass of water (New 
York pump water) and drank it at a draught, exclaiming, as he placed the 
tumbler on the table : ' That is very refreshing ; but how much more 
refreshing to take a good long draught, this warm day, from the old oaken 
bucket I left hanging in my father's well at home.' Hearing this, the 
poet's wife, who was always a suggestive body, said : ' tSelim, why 
wouldn't that be a pretty subject for a poem ?' The poet took the hint, and 
under the inspiration of the moment sat down and poured forth from his 
very soul thu.se beautiful lines which have immortalized the name of 
Woodworth. 

The poet was instructed in the classics by the Rev. Nehemiah Thomas of 
Scituate, afterwards he was apprenticed to Benj. Russell, editor of the 



"the old oaken bucket." 4:3 

Columbia Sentinel, Boston. After serving his time he removed to New 
Haven, and started a periodical entitled The Bellea Lettres Bejjository. 
Then we find him in 1813 in New York city, conducting a paper called the 
War. In 1823, with Geo. P. Morris, he established the New York Mirror. 
In 1827 he edits a paper called the Pariheon. Among his published works 
are : ' Beasts at Law or Zoologian Jurisprudence,' ' Quarter Day or the' 
Horrors of the First of May,' and the ' C'hampions of Fi'eedom.' Besides 
the above works he contributed poems from time to time to the papers of 
the day, also dramatic works for the stage ; one, the ' Forest Rose ' has had 
a great run." 

During the first part of August, 1879, there appeared the fol- 
lowing in the Boston Herald : 

" To the Editor of the Herald: Seeing a few lines in your issue of yester- 
day, stating that ' The Old Oaken Bucket ' was produced under the ' inspir- 
ation ' of a glass of brandy and water, I am sure that the particulars relat- 
ing to said ' inspiration ' will prove interesting to manv of your Sunday 
readers : Samuel Woodworth, the author of ' The Old Oaken Bucket.' 
died at New York in 1842, aged 67. He was a printer, and served his 
apprenticeship at Boston, in the office of IMajur Russell, the publisher of the 
Centinel. The popular and beautiful ballad, for which he is best known, 
is said to have had its oi-igin under the following circumstances: He was 
employed in an office on the corner of Chestnut and Chambers strests, in. 
New York. One day, with a knot of brother typos, he dropped in at an 
establishment kept by Mall ory, on Franklin street, for the purpose of taking 
some brandy and water, which Mallory was famous for keeping. The 
liquor was excellent, and Woodworth seemed inspired by it; for, after 
taking a draught, he set his glass upon the table, and smacking his lips, 
declared that Mallory's eau de viev/ns superior to anything he ever tasted. 
' No,' said a comrade, ' you are quite mistaken : there was one thing which, 
in both our estimations, far surpassed this, in the way of drinking.' ' What 
was that? ' asked Woodworth, dubiously. 'The draught of pure fresb 
spring water that we used to drink from the old oaken bucket that hung in 
the well, alter our return from the labors of the field, on a sultry day in 
summer.' The teardrop glistened for a moment in Woodworth's eye, 
♦ True ! true !' he replied and soon after quitted the place. He returned to 
the office, grasped the pen, and in half an hour ' The Old Oaken Bucket,' 
one of the most delightful compositions in the English language, was ready, 
in manuscript, to be embalmed to the memories of succeeding genera- 
tions— C E. w:' 

Although the poem is familiar to every American it is- 
inserted here, being descriptive of this locality. 

THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET. 



How^ dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood, 
When fond recollection presents them to view, 

The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wild wood, 
And every loved spot which my infancy knew. 



',44 "the old oaken bucket." 

The wide spreading pond and die mill which stood by it, 
The bridge, and the rock where the cataract^fell, 

The cot of my father, the dairy house nigh it, 
And e'en the rude bucket that hung in the well. 

The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket, 

The moss covered bucket which hung in the well. 

The moss covered bucket, I hail as a treasure, 

For often at noon when returned from the field. 
I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure, 

The purest and sweetest that nature can yield. 
How ardent I seized it with hands that were glowing, 

And quick to the white-pebbled bottom it fell, 
Then, soon, with the emblem of truth overflowing. 

And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well. 
The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket, 

The moss covered bucket arose from the well. 

How sweet from the green mossv brim to receive it, 

As poised on the curb it inclined to my lips. 
Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it, 

Though filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips. 
And now far removed from the loved situation, 

The tear of regret will intrusivelv swell 
As fancy reverts to my father's plantation, 

And sighs for the bucket, which hangs in the well. 
The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket. 

The moss covered bucket which hangs in the well. 

Samuel Woodwoiih, the author, was a descendant of Walter 
Woodwortli. The female branch of the Woodwortb family is 
still rei)resented in Scituate in the families of JNIerritt and 
Sylvester. 

Between Little's Bridge and the sea there flows into North 
Kiver from Marslifield, first a brook on which was located 
Walker's Nail Factory and Avhich rises near P^ast Marshfield 
villaiie. Branch Creek enters the River below Trouant's 
Island. Broad Creek enters the River from North River 
marshes and Little's Creek enters the River about 125 rods 
north of L. Rogers' Wharf at White's Ferry. 

After we leave the First Herring Brook the next point of 
interest on North River is >\^hite's Ferry at " New Harbor 
Marsh." This was called White's Ferry as early as 17G8 as 
the following tends to show, taken from The Boston Chronicle 
176«, April 4-11. 




o a 



white's ferry. 4^ 

" A few days ago, Jacob Lincoln, a lad about 20 years of age, apprentice 
to Mr. Thomas Dillingham, blacksmith of Soituate, going in a ferry boat 
to a whaling vessel lying at White ferry, in North River, in jumping up to 
send otf, unfortunately fell down between the vessel and boat and was- 
immediately carried out by the tide ; his body was found at the Hummocks- 
nine days after."' 

In 1638 a ferry was established at North liiver l)}^ Jonathan 
Brewster of Diixbury. This ferry was at a phice called "Xew 
Harbour Marsh," and it is now called "White's Ferry." Jonathan 
Brewster of Diixbury was the first ferryman. In 1641 ]Mr. 
Brewster sold his ferry privilege to Mess. Barker, Howell and 
others for £60. In 1645 it was kept by Ralph Chapman, who, 
in 1656 implored the court to excuse him "as it would bring 
him to extreme poverty" &c. He was excused "except on. 
special occasions as bringing the magistrates over who dwell 
there." At "New Harbour jNIarsh " North River is very wide 
and contains many islands. • Here it approaches the sea as if tO' 
burst through the beach, but turns almost at right angles to the 
east, and flows nearly south, parallel with the seashore for nearly 
three miles, before it linds its outlet, leaving a beach 20 rods 
wide and about 20 to 40 feet high, composed of round smooth 
pebbles. South River, a shorter but more rapid tide stream, 
flowing from jNIarshfleld and uniting with it near the sea, aids in 
causing a shifting of these rivers' mouths to which mu.st be added 
the mighty efiect of the heaving and restless ocean, the conflict 
of winds, of tides, and contexture of the immediate shores. 
North River has at its mouth during full tide but nine feet of 
water, owing to the liar. Its embouchure shifts, advancins; 
south a half mile, then receding as far, sometimes having one 
outlet and occasionally two, which was the fact in 1815. Vessels 
of over 200 tons were lifted up by gondolas lashed to the 
vessel at low tide or heaved with kedges.* At White's Ferry 
there was a wharf for many years where vessels built at the 
yards above would receive their rigging. Ships were built here 
by the Halls and Keens. Vessels wintered in Fourth CliflT Bay 
in early times, finding good moorings at "Pincin's Bank." 
John Barker, who purchased the ferry of Jonathan Brewster in 
1641, was drowned there in 1652. The colony records gave 
the verdict of the jury on the death of Isaac Robinson of Scituate, 
who was drowned in Barnstable as follows. Verdict : 

"Drowned in going into a pond to fetch two geese, the pond 
beinge full of w^eedy grasse." 



* See Chapter on North River Pilots. 



46 THE EARLY FISHERIES. 

John Kose of ^Nlarshtield died while gunning on the beach in 
1676. Verdict : 

" Perished bv the sevei-ity of the weather." 

In the Cokmy Records under date of July 31, 1656, is the fol- 
lowing verdict : 

" Wee finde that this present day John Phillips Jr. came into his 
dwelling house lately known or called Mr. Buckley's house in good 
health as good wile Williamson affirmeth and sat upon a stoole by the 
chimney and bvan immediate hand of God manifested in thunder and 
lightning the said John came by his death." 

Deane takes from the Colony Records the following : "Richard 
Berry, Jedediah Lombard, Benjamin Lombard and James 
]\Iaker lined for smoking tol)acco at the end of Yarmouth ]Meet- 
ing House on the Lord's Day," and referring to tradition Deane 
says, "the early settlers were greatly addicted to smoking and 
that they would often disturb divine service by the clicking of 
j9[ints and steels to light pipes and the clouds of smoke in the 
church." Hence the colony passed a law in 1669, viz : "It is 
enacted that any person or persons that shall Ije found smoking 
of tobacco on the Lord's day going to or coming from the meet- 
ing within two miles of the Meeting House shall pay 12 pence 
for every such default," &c. 

The will of Capt. Williams gives his brother-in-law his two 
l)oys, " George and Thomas whom I obtained with my sword and 
my bow." These were undoulrtedly Indian slaves. ]Mary 
White, a resident of Scituate married about 1600 an African 
slave named James Xewell, and from them there descended quite 
a numerous posterity. 

The company that arrived in the ship "William," set up a tish- 
ing station at Scituate in 1633 and from that time the fisheries 
of Scituate were very important. North River was also noted 
for its fisheries, a principal station for herring fishery being at 
Gravelly Beach. Most of the vessels used in the fisheries from 
Scituate were built on North River. For twenty years prior 
to 1830 an average of twelve or more vessels were built per 
year of from 40 to 400 tons each, and the average cost of getting 
them out of the river was §1.00 per ton. Lindsay in his 
"History of Ancient Commerce" asserts that in 1572 "the 
largest merchantman that sailed from the Port of London was 
only 240 tons register." 



THE FIRST VESSEL BUILT IX MASSACHUSETTS. 47 

Only one of the vessels that composed the squadron of 
Columbus in 14U2 had a deck, and the "]Maytlower" that 
brought over the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620 was of but ISO tons 
burthen. The advantages to be derived from the encourage- 
ment of shipbuilding in New England were early appreciated 
by the managers of the Massachusetts Bay Comjiany in London. 
In their first letter dated April 17, 1629, they state that six 
shipwrights had been sent to New England of whom Ii()l)ert 
Moulton was chief. The first vessel built in the ^Massachusetts 
Colony was launched July 4, 1631, into the *' Mistick " River at 
Medford. This was the Bark " Blessinr/ of the Bat/," 30 tons, 
owned l)y Governor Winthrop. In 1636 she was valued at 
£160. Richard HoUingsworth launched a ship of 300 tons at 
iSaleni in June, 1641. At Gloucester a ship was built in 1643 
by a Mr. Stevens and others. In 1724 so important had ship- 
buildino; become in Massachusetts that sixteen Master Builders 
belonging to the Port of London petitioned the Lords of the 
Committee of Plantations "not to encourage shipbuilding in 
New England l)ecause workmen were drawn thither." The war 
of the Revolution brought business t(} a standstill. Ships could 
no longer be built on English account and the danger of capture 
rendered navigation of the sea extremely hazardous. When the 
independence of the Colonies was fully established shipbuilding 
again l)ecame active. AVilliam Yassall in writing to Rev. John 
AVilson of Boston, June 7, 1643, describing his and jNlr. 
Hatherly's and other farms said : 

" Our lands reach ten miles or more to the Southwestward, by 
which runneth a faire river navigable for boats ten miles and hay 
grounds on both sides and hath an outlet into the sea about four 
miles from the meeting house." 

The forests of white oak, which the early settlers found here, 
have long since been converted into ships. The black walnut 
has entirely disappeared, the spruce nearly so, and but few 
white oaks of any size are now cut. Pine, ash, beech, maple, 
birch, sassafras, and walnut are now common in our forests. A 
number of ship carpenters went from the North River to Beaver 
Harbor, N. B., to work on a vessel. Where they boarded there 
was a male cook, who used to take too much liquor. One day, 
when in this condition, he got otiended with " Uncle Sam," 
whom many will remember, and tried to scald him. "Cncle 
Sam " gave him a black eye ; and when the cook appeared, the 
next morning, he was asked how he came to have such a black 



48 EAELY SHIPBUILDING ON NORTH RIVER. 

eye. "A horse kicked me," he replied, "and a mighty smart 
beast it was, too." 

Constant Oakman built a schooner some time between 1821 
and 1826 on North River. Below are given the names and his- 
tories, so far as can be learned, of some vessels that are regis- 
tered as having been built on North River; but it is impossible 
to ascertain at what yards any of them were built: 1709. 
Sch. " SALLY," 35 tons, of Boston, George Homer, merchant, 
owner. This vessel was destroyed in 1803. 1774. "MI- 
NERVA," which was in China trade, and afterward whaling, 
and broken up at Nantucket in 1821. 1777. Sch. "BEE," 33 
tons, William Boardman, of Boston, owner. 1781. Sch. "IN- 
DUSTRY," 31 tons, of Welltleet. 1781. Sch. "SALLY," 25 
tons, had a deep waist and a short quarter deck ; of Boston ; 
owned by Joshua Torrey of Weymouth. 1783. Sch. "SUC- 
CESS," 30 tons, owned bv Eben Parsons, merchant, Boston. 

1784. Sch. "JENNY," 63 tons, of Boston. 1784. Sip. 
"WELLFLEET," 25 tons, of Wellfleet, Thomas Melville, Sur- 
vevor. 1784. Sch. "WILLIAM," 56 tons, of North Carolina. 

1785. Sch. "MOLLY," 55 tons, of Barnstable. 1785. Sch. 
"NEPTUNE," 67 tons, of Cohasset. 1785. Sch. "ESTHER." 
1785. Brtff't'n "HOPE," 134 tons, of Bost(m. 1786 Sch. 
"DILIGENT," 81 tons, Robert Gray, owner, of Boston. 
Probably lost on a voyaije to Guadaloupe in 1807. 1786. Sch. 
"LUCY," 58 tons, James Tisdale, of Boston, owner. 1786. 
Brig "FRIENDSHIP," 118 tcms, of Boston. 1787. Sch. 
" FLYING FISH," 32 tons, Eben Parsons, merchant of Bos- 
ton, owner; James Taylor, master. 1787. Briir'tn "LADY 
WASHINGTON," 118 tons, of Boston. 1789. Sch. "RUBY," 
85 tons, of Boston. Condemned at Sandwich Islands in 1824. 
1789. Sch. "PHCENIX," 68 tons, of Hingham, George R. 
Gushing, of Hingham, owner. 1790. Brig't'n "HANNAH," 
130 tons, of Boston. 1790. Ship "UNION," which was the 
first ship that ever had whaling agreements for proportions of 
captured oil, etc. Prior to this time men shipped l)y contract 
by word of mouth, — no writing. She made two voyages, and 
on going out, in 1807, was supposed to have been sunk one 
niijht by a whale. The crew took to their boats, and in twenty 
ckys reached Fay al. 1791. "WASHINGTON." 1791. "HEC- 
TOR." 1792. Brig "PEGGY," 134 tons, of Boston. 1793. 
Sip. "CATHARINE," 85 tons, of Boston. Lost near Mt. 
Desert in 1816. Ship "COMMERCE," 241 tons(?), Capt. 



, HISTORY OF THE AVHALE SHIP "ESSEX." 49 

Hardy, was built on North River in 1795. Probably the same 
" Commerce " that was condemned at Tonningen in August, 
1810. 1796. Sch. "SALLY," 24 tons, of Kingston. 

In 1796 there was also built on North River the whaleship 
"ESSEX." Pollard, who was master of her, was an officer 
on Fulton's steamer in 1807. The " Essex " was bought from 
Salem by Nantucket merchants in 1804. She and her crew 
have quite a history, which is given in a book pul)lished by 
Capt. R. B. Forbes in 1884. The " Essex " sailed from Nan- 
tucket Aug. 12, 1819, under command of George Pollard, Jr. 
They had an uneventful passage around Cape Horn into the 
South Pacific, but Nov. 20, while in Lat. 40° So. Lon. 119° W., 
they sighted a school of whales, and all the boats were sent in 
pursuit. Owen Cha.-e fastened to a large whale, which smashed 
his boat, but he stuffed cloths in the hole and reached the ship. 
A large sperm whale was lying quietly on the ship's weather- 
bow, Avhich spouted and went down, but came up again and 
slowly made his way toward the vessel, but increased his speed, 
and struck with great force with his head just forward the fore 
chains, throwing those on board off' their feet. He disappeared, 
and was next seen, apparently in convulsions, about a hundred 
rods to leeward. Finally, after much manceuvreing, he again 
came at the ship at full speed, and struck her directly under the 
cathead and completely stove the bow. The ship was noAV fill- 
ing rapidly, and there was only time to snatch two compasses, 
two quadrants, two Bowclitch navigators, muskets, powder, 
files, rasps, nails, turtles gotten at Galapagos Islands, and 
about six hundred pounds of dry bread, and each boat had 
sixty-five gallons of water. The ship soon fell over on her 
beam ends, full of water. The allowance of food was one bis- 
cuit and a half pint of water a day for each man. Washboards 
were fitted to the sides of the deeply laden boats. On Dec. 
9th, some flying fish struck against the sails, dropped into the 
boat, and were devoured, l^ones, scales, and all. On Dec. 16th, 
the allowance of bread and water was reduced one half. Some 
relief was found by bathing in the sea. This led to the dis- 
covery of barnacles on the boat's l)()ttom, which were eaten 
with a relish. On Dec. 20th, land was seen, and upon examina- 
tion of their " Bowditch," it was found to be Ducies Land, 
Lat. 24° 40' S., Lon. 124° 40' W. Eggs, birds and shell-fish 
were found and devoured raw. Two days afterward they found 
a spring, and nearly died from drinking the water in excess. 



50 HISTORY OF THE WHALE SHIP '"ESSEX." 

The only vegetable was pepper-grass. By Dec. 27tli, they had 
exhausted everythino: on the island, excei)ting the water, and 
departed, leaving behind them William AVright and Setli Weeks 
of Barnstable, and Thomas Copper of Plxmouth, England. 
They now headed for Juan Fernandez. Jan. 10th, M. P. Joy, 
the second mate, died. This was the first death. Jan. 12th, 
the three boats were separated in Lat. 36° 16' S., Lon. 112° 
20' W. The allowance of bread was now an ounce and a half 
per day in Chase's boat. Jan. 20th, Richard Peterson died, 
and was committed next day to the sea. Feb. 8th, Chase says, 
"Our speech and reason seemed impaired." Isaac Cole became 
mad and soon died. Consultation was held, and the terrible 
verdict rendered that he must serve for food. Chase's journal 
says : " We separated his limbs from his body, cut off all the 
flesh, t-ook out the heart, sewed up the remains in canvas, and 
committed it to the deep, and, making a fire, partook of it and 
preserved the remainder for future use. The next morning, 
10th of Fel)ruary, we found the fiesh spoiling, and made a tire 
to cook it to prevent its being wholly lost. For six or seven 
days we lived on it. On Feb. 15th, our stock of flesh was 
exhausted, and we were down to the last two cakes. Our limbs 
had become swelled, and pained us exceedingly.'' On Feb. 
18th, Chase's boat was rescued by the brig "Indian," Capt. 
William Crozier, of London, in Lat. 33° 45' 8., Lon. 81° 03' W. 
In Capt. Pollard's boat a like necessity obliged them to sustain 
life by eating the body of a colored man, Charles Shorter. 
Stephen Shepherd, colored, died in the second mate's boat, and 
Samuel Reed, colored, in the captain's boat, and were used as 
food. The second mate's boat became separated from the cap- 
tain's Jan. 28th, in Lat. 35° S., Lon. 100° W., and was never 
heard from. In Capt. Pollard's boat, he and the three remain- 
ing men cast lots to see who should be sacrificed, and the lot 
fell to Owen Coffin, cousin to Capt. Pollard, who wished to take 
his place ; but Coffin claimed the right to be sacrificed to save 
his comrades, and submitted to his fate with great fortitude. 
Lots were drawn to see who would be his executioner, and it 
fell to Charles Ramsdale. On Feb. 11th, Brazilla Ray died, 
and on these two bodies the captain and Ramsdale subsisted 
until the morning of the 23d, when they were rescued in Lat. 
37° S. by the whaleship "Dauphin," Capt. Zimri Cofiin, of Nan- 
tucket, and arrived at Valparaiso on j\larch 17th. At Val- 
paraiso, Capt. Downs, of the U. 8. frigate "Macedonian," 
bargained, for one thousand dollars, with an English ship bound 



HISTORY OF SHIPS BUILT OX XORTH RIVER. 51 

to Australia, to stop at Ducies Island, which she did, and res- 
cued the three men left there. Such were the sufferings of the 
crew of one of the North River luiilt vessels. There are no 
survivors of the ill-fated " Essex " now living. Capt. Robt. 
B. Forbes gives a most elaborate account of this vessel, the sub- 
stance of which the author has endeavored to state in the fore- 
going sketch. 

There was built on North River, in 1804, the " SAMUEL," 
a whaler. Rol)ert Jnott, who commanded Fulton's steamer in 
1807, was master of the " Samuel." She was condemned, full 
of oil, at Rio Janeiro, 1822. 1805. "BROTHERS," which 
was lost on the coast of Brazil in 1824. Also in 1805, ship 
"CHARLES," which was lost in a " Norther" in 1823, at Val- 
paraiso. In 1809, the "THOMAS," condemned at Woahoa, 
Sandwich Islands, 1825. In 1816, "GEORGE." She was 
condemned in 1857, at Woahoa, Sandwich Islands. In 1817, 
" GOVERNOR STRONG ; " in 1823 sold to Uruguay. Also in 
1817, the "VULTURE ; " sold to New York, and in 1826 con- 
demned at Gibraltar. In 1818, "EQUATOR;" about 1851 
broken up at San Francisco. Also in 1818, "EAGLE;" in 
1837 she was broken up at Nantucket. Also in 1818, "RAM- 
BLER;" condemned at Apia, Navigator Islands, one of the 
Hervey Group, in 1852. F. C. Sandford owned, and in 1838 
went around the world in her. In 1818, the "HERO;" she 
made many good voyages, and in 1856 was condemned at the 
Cape of Good Hope. 1819, "COLUMBUS;" broken up in 
California in 1851. F. C. Sanford saw this ship broken up by 
Chinamen alongside the ship "Cadmus," that in 1824 brought 
Lafayette to America. 1821 . " LOPER ; " made a sperm whale 
voyage in the Pacific Ocean in 1830, bringing 2270 barrels of 
speiTU oil in fourteen months, twenty days. Most oil in given 
time. In 1835 she was lost off Marinam, W. I. 1822. "KING- 
STON ; " in 1850 sold to Sydney, N. S. W. Also in 1822, 
" FALCON ; " on her second voyage she went ashore at Society 
Islands, and was a total loss in 1826. Coffin Chase, now living 
at Philadelphia, aged ninety-two, was on her when she was lost. 
Sch. "SPECIE," 72 tons, was built in 1827 on North River; 
commanded by Capt. Smith; owned in 1865 by Smith & O., 
Philadelphia. 



CHAPTER III. 



NORTH RIVER PILOTS. 



Capt. Anthony Coll amore, Wantons, Samuel Doggett, John 
DoGGETT, Mark Hatch, Capt. Bardin Sylvester, Benja- 
min Hatch, Benjamin Damon, James Eldredge, Frederick 
Handerson, Job Young, Benjamin House, Jr., Jacob 
Ames, James Ames, Alvin Hall, Samuel Hall, Benjamin 
Keene, Asa Sher3ian, Asa Sherman, eJR., Tobias Oakjvian, 
Capt. David Church, Timothy Williamson, Uncle Tom 
Tripp, Capt. Luther Rogers, Calvin Lewis, Jerry 

GUNDERWAY, CaPT. ChARLES L. TiLDEN. 

TN the earliest records North River was recognized as being 
-*• the most important stream in the Colony, not only for its 
fisheries and the shipbuilding on its banks, but as an outlet to a 
large inland country. Packet lines were established prior to 
1700, and trade carried on with coasting vessels which found 
their way up this branch of the sea. The population of Scituate 
at various periods was as follows : In 1638, freemen 22, 
townsmen 19, total male population 41 ; in 1643 males from 
16 to 60 years, 100. By the United States census of souls in 
1800 there were in Scituate, 2728, number of houses 421. 

In 1681 the bark "Adventure," 40 tons, sailed from North 
River for the West Indies. She was owned by Scituate and 
Marshfield parties. Capt. Oollamore and the Wantons carried 
on a considerable trade on the North River previous to 1670. 
Capt. Anthony Collamore was wrecked while on a coasting 
voyage from North River to Boston, and lost on Scituate Beach 
December 16, 1693, at a place now called Collamore's Ledge. 

Samuel Dogget sailed from North River about 1700.* He 



* See Chapter on North River continued. 



EARLY NAVIGATION. 53 

owned the sloops " Dolphin " and " Swan." John Doggett, the 
son of the first Thomas, had a grandson John, the son of Mb 
son Thomas, who kept Doggett's Ferry, now Little's Bridge, in 
1730. He Avas also a mariner and sailed at one time as captain 
of the sloop " Patience,^' as appears in the following : 

"March 19, 1728-9 John Holbrook Jr., of Scituate secures 
Thomas Doggett of Marshfield on a bond by a Bill of Sale of ^ of 
the decked sloop " Patience," Capt. John Doggett, about 60 tons 
now filled for sea and at anchor in North River." 

There entered at the port of Plymouth, ]\Iass., from North 
River during the year 1773 the following vessels • 

March 10, 1773. Marh Hatch enters Sip. "Ranger," 65 tons, 
from North River, with 3 bbls. cider. 

This is probably the same sloop referred to in the following 
receipt. 

"Hanover, July 12, 1777. Rec'd of Samuel House and Atherton 
Wales £133 six shillings eight pence in full for one quarter part of ye 
sloop cal'd ye " Ranger " and one quarter of her cargo consisting of 
lumber now on a voyge to ye West Indies Together with one 
quarter part of ye net proceeds of sd. voige. We paying one 
quarter part of ye men's wages & victuling ye sd. vessel commanded 
by Capt. Burden Sylvester. Caleb Turner." 

March 19, 1773. Benj. Hatcii enters Sip. "Patty," 20 
tons from N. River, with 12 cords of wood. 

April 6, 1773. Benj. Daman enters Sip. "Hannah," 25 tons, 
from Marshfield, with 12i cords of wood. 

May 11, 1773. Jas. Eldredge, enters Sch. "Dolphin," 24 
tons, from North River, with Ballast. Fved'h Handerson, enters 
Sch. " Speedwell," 15 tons, from No. River, with Ballast. 
Benj. Hatch, enters Sip. "Polly," 18 tons, from No. River, 
with 12 cords of wood. 

May 15, 1773. Benj. Daman, enters Sip. "Polly," 18 tons, 
from No. River, with 11 cords of wood. 

May 28, 1773. Benj. Daman, enters Sip. "Hannah," 25 tons, 
from No. River, with 11 cords of wood. 

May 28, 1773. Benj. Hatch, enters Sip. "Polly," 18 tons, 
from No. River, with 9 cords of wood. 



54 PILOTING VESSELS OUT OF THE RIVER. 

June 3, 1773. Job Young, enters Sip. "Union," 15 tons, 
from No. Eiver, with 2 tons Pott Iron. 

July 28, 1773. Benj. Daman, enters Sip. "Hannah," 35 
tons, from No. Eiver, 20 cords of wood. 

Jan. 5, 1774. Benj. House, Jr., enters Sch. "Defiance," 
25 tons, from Scituate, with 150 l)bls. mackerel and 3 cords of 
wood. These packets are all said to have been built on North 
River. 

The captains of these vessels were of necessity skilful pilots, 
as only those who were thoroughly acquainted Avith the shoals, 
rocks and bars could navigate North River with safety. Vessels 
coming into the river from other ports and those built on the 
river were piloted by North River Pilots, few of whom are now 
living. In getting large vessels down and out of the river the 
pilots had to work very quickly and bury an extra " kedge " 
ahead before they had "heaved up to" the previous one, or the 
vessel would lose steerage way and drift to the shoals on either 
bank. Below Little's Bridge the channel is very crooked, and 
near the mouth of the river is a bar, through which at times it 
was necessary to cut the vessel's keel. On the way down river 
the vessels were kept in the channel by four guys, two from the 
bows to each bank, which were called breast lines, and two 
from the quarter decks, called quarter lines. 

When a vessel drew so nmch water that it was necessary to 
cut her keel through the bar, they would go to the beach beyond 
and ])ury heavy planks in the sand five or six feet deep, laying 
them at right angles with the position of the vessel, and from 
their centre attached chains, which they carried along in covered 
trenches until some distance from the planks, where they would 
lay them on the surface. The process of burying these planks 
was called "buryino; nisrofers." A tackle would be attached to 
the end of the chain and carried up the river to the windlass on 
the bow of the vessel. Scows also were invarial)ly lashed, just 
below the bow and stern at low tide to help raise the vessel. 
With much tackle and large blocks, and often with fifteen men 
heaving at the windlass, they would get the vessel inch by inch 
through the bar, or shoals. Sometimes vessels could not be 
gotten out durini; one course of tides and would have to lay until 
the next course of high tides. A very smgular feature of 
North River is the shifting of its mouth from Beetle's Rocks, 
which are located about a quarter of a mile south of the present 



PILOTING VESSELS OUT OF THE EIVER. 55 

mouth of tlie river, to the shoals, a shallow place, where the 
tide is strongest, and which was the cause of great annoyance 
in navigation. Vessels grounded about half a mile from Beetle's 
Bocks, it requiring sometimes several days to get them otf. 
^Vithin Capt. Asa Sherman's remembrance, the mouth of the 
river has worked its way nearly to the shoals and back agam, 
and is now coming north. 

An old sea captain, who lived near North River and used to 
pilot vessels, was going down one day on a new ship after 
launching. He was very anxious about a rock in the river, and 
being afraid the vessel would strike, sat out on the bowsprit, 
and kept singing out, "Haul her over to Scit-i-ate ; " by and by 
he took out his snuti"l)ox, and while taking a pinch managed to 
fall into the water. He arose to the surface shouting and calling 
out "at the top of his lungs," "Haul her over to Scit-i-ate." 
He evidently thought she had struck. 

Jacob Ames, James Atnes, and Alvin Poi-ter used to ])ilot 
vessels down the river. There was one old pilot, a retired sea- 
captain, who (like many others, undoul)tcdly) used to give his 
orders in the iin})erative mood. On the meadow banks on ])oth 
sides of the river were many men with h>ng ropes from each 
bow and each quarter to pull or to check, according to the 
command received from between the "knight heads." "Old 
Neptune" magnified his office and roared out his orders like the 
voice of many waters. He was not at all fastidious al)out his 
language, and his epithets were not suited to ears polite, but to 
"Jack Tars" with whom he had had to do. His "Pull away 
there on starboard bow," or, "Hold on port quarter," would 
have had no moving force without the torpedo snap that made 
the command tingle with authority. He was a character in his 
day and has sworn many a good ship from Barstow's Yard do^vn 
to the mouth of the river. Samuel Hall, who was born 1770, 
and died 1806, was captain of the packet ship "Dolphin," which 
plied on North River. Benjamin Keen ran a North River 
packet ship in 1820. 

Asa Sherman of White's Ferry is the oldest North River 
pilot and packet captain now living. For 37 years he Avas in 
command of Packets running between North River and coast- 
wise ports. He was son of Asa Sherman of Centre JNIarshfield 
_ and was born February 

yt. J^^^^.^ s.. 28, 1801. Asn. semov, 
^ was captain ot packets 



56 NORTH RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS. 

nmning between North Eiver and Boston for about ten years. 
The tir.st sl'oop that Asa, Jr., commanded was the "Albion," 
which uas running on the river line when he took her in the year 
1827. His next vessel was the "Hanson," built in Pembroke in 
1833 by Briogs & Turner. His third vessel was the Sip. "Susan," 
built in 1834 by the Halls at AVhite's Feny, which he took in 
1837. His foui-th was the " Betsey Ransom," which he took in 
1844. This vessel was bought from Scituate. His tifth packet 
was the "Herschel," 1851, bought from Sandwich. His sixth 
was the "Prompter," bought at Portland, and his last packet was 
the "Ellen Elizal)eth," which was bought in Boston, and which 
he sailed from 1856 to 18(54. The location of the landings he 
made were as follows : beginning at the mouth of the river, 1st., 
White's Ferry, 2nd, Little's Bridge, 3rd, Union Bridge, 4th, 
Hobart's or Briggs' Landing, 5th, Foster's Landing, 6th, Job's 
Landing, 7th, Alden Briggs' wharf, or the Brick-kiln, 8tli 
Town Landing at No. River Bridge, Hanover. The vessels 
were owned by the principal business men of the towns border- 
ing on the river. 

Capt. Sherman's regular trips were for carrying freight to and 
fnmi Boston and occasionally to other places, as Scituate 
Harbor, Duxbury, Plymouth and any of the towns on the coast 
from (^ipe Ann to Cape Cod. Freights to Boston were usually 
wood, charcoal and farmers' produce ; returning with lumber, 
sliip-supplies, goods for the stores, &c. He made yearly trips 
to the camp meetings held at Provincetown, where he carried a 
great number of passengers. He brought the lumber and 
materials for erecting the original Daniel Webster house and 
farm buildings. He was an eye-witness of the engagement 
between the men-of-war " Chesapeake " and " Shannon." Before 
the battle the British came into North Eiver for provisions ; 
they took three calves from the farm of Waterman Thomas, on 
Marshtield Neck, and caused some disturbance among the i)eople 
in the vicinity. The father of Asa Sherman, Jr., Capt. Sher- 
man, miiNtered his company of militia, and went to meet them, 
but they quickly took their booty and left for their vessel. 
Capt. Asa Sherman, Sr., was in command of the Sip. " j\Iay- 
liower" from 1824 to 1828, and of the Sip. " jNIaonolia " from 
1828 to 1833. The "Mayflower" was built in Pembroke in 
1823, and the "Magnolia" in 1828, at Hanover, l)y Barker Turner. 
The Sch. "Nancy," built by Samuel Kent at the Harbor in 1803, 
was used as a packet on North River, and commanded by Capt. 
Sherman, Sr. 



NORTH RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS. 5V 

Tobiafi Oakman, of Oakm:iu'.s Ferry, was master of a packet 
sloop sailing from North River Bridge, Hanover, to Boston, for 
over forty years. Caj)t. David Church was his successor. 
Capt. Church was w^ell known in his day, and was calle 1 by 
the old settlers " a substantial man." He had many peculiarities, 
one of which was his manner of dress. With the exception of 
his boots and shoes, every garment he wore was made in his 
own house, of wool from his flock of sheep or flax from his 
field. He wore everything its natural color, and his trousers 
were always tucked into his stockings. It is said he was never 
known to wear a dyed garment. The shipl)uilders had so much 
confidence in him that he made nearl}- all of their purchases. 
At one time he went into a Boston store where he had not be- 
fore traded, to purchase five tons of iron, and, while making 
his inquiries, he noticed that they regarded him with some sus- 
picion. "Fogs," said Capt. Church, "you look at me as if you 
had some doubts about me. I Avant you to understand that I 
do not come out of North River w^ithout five or six thousand 
dollars about me." He then took a package of several thousand 
dollars from his pocket. The firm replied, "AVe are pleased to 
make your acquaintance, and shall be happy to attend to all 
your requests." 

Timothy Willia7nson used to run a packet sjoop between 
Boston and North River. He was a great gunner, and, being 
usually the only man on board his small craft, he would begin 
firing his "flint-lock" some time before reaching the draw- 
bridge, in order to have it opened for him. Those living in 
the region of Little's Bridge remem])er hearing the " bang," 
"bang," "bang," and they always knew it Avas Tim Williamson 
coming up the river. He was a high-tempered fellow and a 
smart w^orkman, and used to pilot vessels out of the river from 
the yards above. About 1819 he Avas paid $11.6(5 for fourteen 
tides on the ships "Foster" and "Peruvian," l)uilt at the AA'"an- 
ton Yard. He once had a terrible fight Avith a shark, near Lit- 
tle's Bridge, Avhich he finally killed. He ran his sloop from 
about 1840 to 1846, and finally accidentally shot himself, which 
injured him for life. Until 1820 or later, cA'ery male citizen 
was obliged to keep a gun and twenty-four rounds of amnuniition. 
Inspection Avas the first Tuesday in ^Nlay, and if the gun lacked 
good order, Avas not properly oiled, or the flint was not right, a 
fine was imposed. 

There Avas another queer character, which any sketch of the 



58 NORTH RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS. 

North River pilots sliould include. This was Undo Tom Tripp, 
Of his origin or nationality there is little or nothing known. 
He was uncle to everybody living on either bank of North River. 
Rev. AVilliam P. Tildcn says, " Uncle Tom Tripp seemed an old 
man when I was a small boy." He was evidently so queer 
looking that he might have been taken for almost any age. He 
was very short, almost a dwarf, and wore a slouch hat, h)ng 
coat, and boots coming up to his middle, which, together with 
his weather-beaten face, made him a curiosity to look at. He 
lived on the river, a sort of human muskrat. If a pair of bilge- 
ways were to be floated from one yard to another, or spars or 
logs transported from one landing to another, " Uncle Tommy " 
was the man to do it. He m'ouUI lash the long timl)e]'s or spars 
together, wait for the tide to float them, and then jump on 
with his water-proof boots, and, with a long setting-pole, keep 
the "water-logged" craft in the channel, and coax it leisurely 
down or up with the tide, as the case might be. AVhen the tide 
turned he would tie his charge to a stake, and cut across the 
fields to the nearest house for refreshments and lodging. He 
was a great "storyteller," and a very harmless one. There 
was one place especially where he always found a cordial wel- 
come. This was the hospitable home of Mr. Sam. Hatch, who 
lived on the banks of the First Herring Brook. "Uncle 
Tommy " could get here by water. Mr. Hatch had a large farm 
and a yet larger heart. He was a "good liver," as they used to 
sa}^ and there was always something in his well-filled pantry 
for any poor waif who might happen along. It was in his spa- 
cious kitchen, in front of his open hard-wood fire, that "Uncle 
Tommy" found an earthly paradise. Here he could eat, drink, 
smoke, and tell stories to his "heart's content." How or Avhen 
he finally " shuftled oflf this mortal coil " (a most fitting phrase, 
by the way, for one so often coiled up in his wet ropes during 
life), no one appears to know. Perhaps, like his prototype, he 
went into a hole in the river's bank, and there sleeps sweetly. 
Let the river, every reach of which he knew l)y heart, be his 
monument. 

Many will remember the North River packet "Pico." The 
"Pico" was originally an old North River "gundalow." Capt. 
Luther Rogers* built on a bow and stern, after which he used 
to "take his umbrella and go to Boston in her." Calvin Lewis 
ran a packet between Marshfield and Boston about 1850. 



* See Rogers's Yards. 




Jeruy Gunderway. 



NORTH RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS. 5'9 

Jerry Gunderivay was a negro, "l)lack as the ace of spades,'* 
and a North River pilot, who would pilot anything from a small 
fishing smack to a " gundalow " of salt hay, or a full-rigged ship. 
At one time he was quite intemperate, and a great smoker, but 
during the last forty years of his life he was a slave to neither 
habit. One day he went to old Mr. Torrey, and asked him if 
he would come to his house and chain him, as he often did when 
he felt he was going to have an attack of the delirium tremens. 
Jerry always knew when he was going to have an attack. Mr. 
Torrey drove staples in the floor, and locked the chains which 
bound Jerry to them. Jerry then requested that his wife 
Cecilia should have the keys, telling her that she must not give 
them to him, no matter how loud he called for them. 

At one time he was confined in the cell of the almshouse. 
One of the old " rum-sellers " of those days happening along, 
asked Jerry what brought him there. " Your rum," said Jerry, 
He used to eat a half a pound or more of raisins a day after he 
stopped drinking. The habits were broken for the following 
reasons : He was piloting a " gundalow " of green hay, which 
caught fire from his pipe, and he came to the conclusion that, 
if he was such a smoker that he set green hay on fire, and burned 
it up, he would stop ; and he never smoked again. He never 
drank after being confined in the almshouse with delirium 
tremens. He was a sensible fellow, and knew, he said, that 
then it was time to stop drinking. He was a great dancer. He 
had many peculiarities, especially in his manner of living. He 
lived at one time in a little old house in Scrabble Lane, and 
slo})t on the hearth with his head on a block of wood ten inches 
high. The block is now in existence. One of his favorite 
anuisements was getting a party of men and boys, and an ox 
sled, and ooino- to Coleman Heights or Hills to slide down in 
the winter time. Once the boys invited Jerry to ride on the 
tongue, which was turned back over the sled, and they so 
guided the sled that it should strike a fence ; consequently, the 
tongue, acting as a lever ])y the sudden stop of the sled, threw 
Jerry far over into a snow-bank in the field beyond. Jerry 
took it in good part, and undoubtedly got square with them 
later. He once chased a fox ofi* the Fourth Clitf, and, not 
being able to stop, fell some twenty or more feet. Jerry died 
many years ago in the So. Scituate Almshouse, where he desired 
to be when sick, for he was sure of good care. At other times 
he lived alone, and there was therefore no one to care for him 
during the latter part of his life. 



fiO CAPT. CHAS. L. TILDEN. 

Capt. Charles L. TUden was the last North River pilot run- 
ning in the packet line between North River and Boston. He 
was born May 9, 181U, in East Marshtield, where he now resides, 
and is still a " live man," though now past his seventh decade. He 
has a fine home in the village, made more pleasant by a family, 
who look after his interests and make him forget that he is now 
on the do\vn grade in years. In seeking an interview with 
Capt. Tilden, a short time since, we found him busily engaged 
in a grave-yard, evidently not on his own account, as he shows 
no signs of needing a resting place there for many years to come. 
Like most boys that are born within the sight of water, a boat 
was his first thought, and at a very early age he made dady 
trips in quest of cod and haddock, which were then so plentiful 
on our coast. He had learned the trade of a shoemaker, at 
which he worked during the winters, but with the pleasant days 
of s})ring he launched his little schooner " George Washington," 
and betook himself to his favorite calling. As he grew older, 
his skill in handling craft gave him command of one of the 
packets. It required a daring man to run a vessel over the 
quicksands and shoals, at the mouth of the river, that were con- 
tinually shifting in storms and tides ; but Capt. Tilden made 
his trips with great regularity, and his vessel could always be 
depended upon to arrive at her eight landing-places on the river 
at nearly her stated hours, under any conditions of weather. 
He ran the sloop "J. Franklin," (built at East Greenwich), 
thirteen years, when she was sold. His next packet was the 
Sch. " Daniel Webster," 43 tons, built for Samuel Hall and 
Capt. Tilden, at Bath, Me., and his last was the sloop "Trader,"* 
which was the last packet run on the river. The heavy baggage 
wagons run between Marshtield, Pembroke, Hanover, and Bos- 
ton, succeeded in turn by the railroads, caused a decline in the 
packet business, which eventually had to lie discontinued. 
Ca})t. Tilden's knowledge as a pilot now came into play, and 
for a dozen years he piloted the shi})s built on the upper yards 
to Boston, and other places, under jury masts, to be rigged and 
receive their cargoes. His last ship he took from Union Bridge 
to Provincetown in a fog so thick that eyesight was of little use ; 
but he got it safely into port a few minutes start of a northeast 
gale, which, if it had qaught him, judging from its power, he 
thinks would probably have carried Iiini right over the Cape 
into Buzzard's Bay. Capt. Tilden is blessed with a happy 



* See Rogers's Yard. 



ONE OF THE GOOD OLD FARMS. 61 

disposition, and reminiscences of his early days are to liim pleas- 
ant memories. He and his family are very fond of music, and 
some forty live years ago he was a member of the East Marsh- 
field Brass Band, which travelled quite extensively among the 
towns on the Cape, giving concerts. He also played the bass 
viol in the church for forty years. The church and headstones 
in the little graveyard beside it still stand, monuments to prove 
that his playing was of the mildest sort, and not the real old 
Orthodox kind that we used to hear, which would scrape the 
rafters in the church at every draw of the bow. 

The schooner "Daniel Webster," spoken of above, is now used 
as a packet between Provincetown and Boston. Capt. Tilden 
made eight landings on the river during the most prosperous 
seasons. The farthest landing up river was Alden Briggs', at 
the Brick-kilns. Second. Job's Landing. Third. Ichabod's 
Bank, named after Ichabod Hatch. Fourth. Gravelly Beach. 
Fifth. Block House, where James's ship-yard was located. 
Sixth. Union Bridge. Seventh. Stephen's Bank, named after 
Stephen Rogers. Eighth. White's Ferry. He also made land- 
ings at North River Bridge regularly when there was freight. 
He made his last trip as a North River pilot just prior to 1870, 
and his last trip as a commander of a North River Packet was 
made since the close of the Rebellion, or only a few years pre- 
vious to 1870. Below are some verses, written nearly fifty 
years ago by an old North River ship-builder, descriptive of 
one of the good old farm-houses where the " latch-string " was 
always out, and where all were sure of a Avarm welcome : 

Of Green Bush farm 'twill be no harm 

To take a slight survey ; 
The tenants next shall be our text, 

Judge ye of what I say. 

Horse, sheep, and cows run loose to browse 

Throughout the spacious fields ; 
Turkeys and hogs, hens, cats and dogs, 

The farm profusely yields. 

Munroe and Ben are all the men 

Who work upon the soil. 
Old Mr. ***** surveys each patch, 

And shows them where to toil. 



62 ONE OF THE GOOD OLD FARMS. 

Here peddlers stop to fill their crops, 

And sell their pretty toys, — 
Chat with the girls, admire their curls, 

And scold the little boys. 

Thus I have told, with feelings cold, 
How things out doors appear ; 

'Twill be no sin to peep within, 
And view the dwellers here. 

The foremost one for making fun 
You'll find is Mr. *****; 

For native wit he never yet 
Has found an equal match. 

His form and size none can despise 
Who like the German caste ; 

His hands and feet are small and neat, 
To suit the Chinese taste. 

His body large, a spacious charge 

As all might well suppose, 
When he in haste, with rapid pace, 

Like Falstaff pufiing goes. 

His hair, once light, is now as white 
As snow-flakes when they fall ; 

His locks with knack he brushes back 
Upon his hoary ball. 

His whitened pate in size is great, 
Though odd the shape appears. 

Above the eyes, how small the size, — 
How huge behind the ears. 

Now let us quiz his noble phiz, — 

As red as any rose ; 
A lucifer match would surely catch 

If rubbed against his nose. 

His eyes are gray, most folks would say, 

With border cherry red ; 
Like diamonds bright they flash forth light, 

Though deep sunk in his head. 

He's so engaged he seems enraged 

When stories he does tell ; 
Your ribs he'll punch, your shoulders hunch. 

To make you listen well. 



ONE OF THE GOOD OLD FARMS. 63 

To view his moutli, of spacious growth, 

Would cure a fit of dumps ; 
To see within, when he does grin, 

A ghastly row of stumps. 

His teeth are few and far between, 

And I have heard it said, 
It's rather doubtful if he can show 

More than seven in his head. 



CHAPTER IV. 



NORTH RIVER BRIDGE YARDS. — 1668-1836. 



DANIEL TURNER, JAMES BARSTOW, WILLIAM BARSTOW, WILLIAM 
BARSTOW, JR., BENJAMIN BARSTOW, GIDEON BARSTOW, NA- 
THANIEL OR " BUILDER SILVESTER," NATHANIEL SILVESTER, 
JR., JONATHAN SAMSON, BARKER TURNER, JEDUTHAN PALMER, 
ENOCH MAGOUN. 



T'^URNER'S YARD was the farthest point up the river at 
^ which any vessels were built. The site is visible from the 
present bridge, being but a few rods above, in a small ravine or 
fforo-e, now somewhat levelled, on the land of the late Horatio 
Bigelow. It was improved by Daniel Turner, previous to 1699 
and later ; but the names of none of his vessels have been ascer- 
tained. Daniel was a son of Humphrey Turner, of Scituate.* 
He removed from Scituate to a spot near Barstow's Bridge, 
which was just above North River Bridge, and in 1665 married 
Hannah, daughter of William Randall. He probably com- 
menced the building of vessels soon after this date, and may 
have resided where Mrs. Bigelow's house now stands. He had 
a grandson, Amasa, who removed with his family to Lancas- 
ter. Other descendants of his are now living in Hanover and 
vicinity. 

Previous to the Revolution, James Bamtoio used this yard, 
and until he removed to Duxbury, where he engaged in ship- 
building for many years. He died in Duxbury in 1808, leav- 
ing a family. His eldest son, James, a ship-builder, was killed 
at Kingston, in the great gale of Sept. 23, 1815, by the fall of 



* See Deane's History of Scituate. 



THE OLD BARSTOW YAKF). 65 

a plank from the staging of a ship on which he was at work. 
His son James, born Nov. 25, 1786, was a ship-builder at Matta- 
poisett, where he died, leaving a large family, whose descend- 
ants are now living there. 

The next yard was the "Old Barstoio Yard,'''' so called. It was 
located just below the Barstow Bridge, and it is said that the 
vessels stood on land now occupied by the present abutments of 
North River Bridge, on the Hanover side. The bows were 
pointed up on the land now owned by the Bigelows, and the 
sterns were on land just below the present bridge. The road 
now passes over the spot where these vessels formerly stood. 
When the Barstows commenced building larger vessels, they 
abandoned this yard, and removed farther down the river, be- 
cause, when launched, their vessels frequently struck against 
the rocky ledge on the opposite shore. The Old Barstow Yard 
was next to the oldest on the river, and was tirst improved by 
William Barstow. He came to New England in 1635, in the 
vessel " Truelove."* He appeared in Scituate (now Hanover) 
in 1649, and built for himself a house about forty rods back of 
where the Second Congregational Church now stands, on Oak- 
land Avenue. The partially tilled cellar, and a few old apple- 
tree stumps, now mark the place of abode of the pioneer of 
ship-building in Hanover, which business was followed by his 
descendants for two centuries. He probably began building 
vessels a few years before his death, which occurred in 1668. 
From an old paper is taken the following : 

"Samuel Prince, Esq, died at Middleborough, Fri., July 5th, 1728. 
Born in Boston, May, 1649. Married Martha, daughter of Mr. Wm. Bar- 
stow, of Scituate, 1674, for his first wife. By her had three sons and two 
daughters." — The New England Weekly Journal. 

William Barstow's son William, born 1652, resided in his 
father's house, and followed the business of ship-building. Hig 
son Benjamin, born 1690, occupied the old homestead, and suc- 
ceeded to the yard at the bridge, where he built for many years. 
He had three wives and twenty-one children. His son James, 
born 1734, built in the yard just above his father's, the location 
of which has been described. James' brother Gideon, born 
1738, succeeded his father, Benjamin, at the old yard, but 
finally removed to Mattapoisett, where he died in 1826, leaving 
several children. From their brother Thomas, born 1732, 



* See Barry's History of Hanover, and Deane's History of Scituate. 



6G "builder SILVESTER." 

descended the Barstows, who built further down the river. It 
was prol)ably Benjamiirs father who decided that it was unwise 
to remain longer at the old yard, and established one at the 
''Two Oaks," some time between 1745 and 1755. 

After the Barstows left the yard, or about 1745, it was im- 
proved l)y Nathaniel Silvester, familiarly known as Builder Sil- 
vester. He was born in 1718, and about 1743 built the house 
afterward occupied by Rufus Farnham, later by Zenas Sturte- 
vant, and now by John Fisher. It belonos to the farm of the 
late Horatio Bigelow, by whose widow Mr. Fisher is employed. 
This house was at one time, previous to 1815, a tavern, and 
kept by Tilden Crocker, or Crooker, who died in Quincy, Nov. 
21, 1853, and was buried from Capt. Farnham's house, Han- 
over. Barry gives a most complete genealogy of the Sylvester 
family, so it will be but ])rietiy referred to here. '' Builder Sil- 
vester " has four great-grandchildren now living at South Han- 
over : Elijah W., a skilled house-carpenter; George F., who 
has a large greenhouse, and does an extensive business as a 
florist; Mary T., widow of the late Lebeus Stockbi'idge , Jr. ; 
and Elizabeth, who resides with her brother, George F. 
" Builder Silvester " was brother of Michael Sylvester, from 
whose son Robert descended a numerous posterity. ]Michael 
and Robert, sons of Robert, Sr., are still living. The follow- 
ing are their descendants : 

Michael Robert. 1st child of Michael, born June 24, 
1825 ; married, July 3, 1849, Emily S. Spear, of Boston, who 
died, with her infant child, Sept. 21, 1851. He mar. 2d, Eliza- 
beth T. Waterman, May 31, 1855 ; she died June 26, 1856. His 
third wife was Maria W. Wright ; married Feb. 12, 1861 ; by 
her he had children : 1. Ruthetta M., born July 17, 1862. 
2. Emily E., born Dec. 6, 1863. 3. Martha AV'. , born Jan. 
25, 1866. 4. Robert W., born Sept. 11, 1868 ; died Dec. 30, 
1871. 5. Helen, born Nov. 17, 1869; died Nov. 27, 1869. 
6. Robert Irving, born June 10, 1872. 7. Maria W., born 
Jan. 27, 1876. 8. Herbert R., born July 1, 1878. Edmund Q., 
second child of Michael, born April 29, 1827 ; married, first, 
Dec. 14, 1858, Mary Salmond, daughter of Samuel Salmond. 
They had children: 1. Eliza Salmond, born April 15,1861. 
2. Samuel Salmond, born Sept. 13, 1862. 3. Mary, born July 
24, 1864; died Sept. 8, 1865. E. Q. Sylvester's first wife, 
Mary, died July 31, 1864, aged thirty-one years, and he mar- 
ried, second, Feb. 5, 1867, her sister, Eliza S., aged twenty-two 



SYLVESTER GENEALOGY. 67 

years. By her he had children: 1. Edmund Q., Jr.; died 
Feb. 12, 18G8, in infancy. 2. Edmund Q., Jr., 2d, born July 
12, 18(39. 3. Joseph Smith, l)ornNov. 5, 1870. 4. Albert Len- 
thall, born Nov. 30, 1872. 5. Francis Baldwin, born Feb. 1, 
1880. Martha R., third child of Michael, was born Dec. 20, 
1839 ; married Cyrus C. Holmes, of Hanover, May 14, 1865. 
He died in Xewberne, N. C, June 30, 1879. They had one 
child, Minnie A., born in Newberne, N. C, Aug. 12, 1866. 
Lemuel Curtis, fourth child of Michael, born May 14, 1842; 
is unmarried. Lydia, fifth child of Michael, born Jan. 12, 
1845 ; married Henry E. Fuller, of Rockland, Mass., Dec. 1, 
1867. They have children : 1. Fred Henry, born March 19, 
1871. 2. Mabel Sylvester, born May 3, 1875. 

Robert Sylvester, the other son of Robert, Sr., and brother 
of Michael, had children: 1st. Loami B., born March 18, 
1832 ; married Emeline A. Pratt, June 16, 1858. He died in 
the war, Sept. 6, 1862. They had one child, Sarah E., born 
May 27, 1859, who married William Stearns, of Wayland, 
Mass., June 16, 1884. Susanna F., second child of Robert, 
born April 5, 1834 ; married Wm. T. Lapham, of So. Boston, 
and they have two children. Belcher, third child of Robert, 
born May 26, 1837; died July 21, 1838. Elizabeth B., 
fourth child of Robert, born July 5, 1839 ; married, Nov. 9, 
1859, 1. H. Macomber, of East Marslilield. They have chiklren : 
1. Herbert I., born Feb. 19, 1866. 2. Walter S., born Aug. 8, 
1884. Sarah E., fifth child of Robert, born Sept. 1, 1843; 
married, Nov. 9, 1864, George H. Allen, of Boston. They 
have children: 1. Fannie S., born Aug. 13, 1869. 2. Sadie 
S., born Sept. 17, 1871. 3. Grace H.", born June 29, 1874. 
Juletta, sixth child of Robert, born April 14, 1845 ; married 
Frank A. Clapp. They have two children, and live in Wake- 
field, Mass. Robert, Jr., seventh child of Robert, born June 
20, 1847 ; married, Nov. 22, 1868, Mary Bailey Turner. They 
have one child, Robert B., born April 10, 1871. 

JNIichael Sylvester, Sr., married, for his first w'ife, Mary, 
sister of Sage Bardin, who became the wife of Nathaniel Syl- 
vester. Both were daughters of Capt. Thomas Bardin, the 
founder of the iron works at Curtis Forge. Michael's second 
wife was Ruth Turner. He resided in the old homestead for- 
merly occupied by his father Amos, which stood on Washington 
street, near the present residence of Robert Sylvester, and which 
was for many years a tavern stand. About three months after his 



QS SYI.VESTER GENEALOGY. 

father died, the old house was burned, as appears by an item in 
the Boston JSFews Letter and New England Chronicle, May 20, 
1762: 

" The house of Mr. Michael Sylvester, at Hanover, lately took fire 
(occasioned, it is supposed, by a defect in the chimney), about two o'clock 
in the morning. The family escaped by jumping out of the windows, and 
could save nothing of the household goods, which, with the house, were 
soon entirely consumed." 

It was probably immediately rebuilt. Barry records the 
death of Michael's son Robert, June 4, 1768, but does not 
speak of the tragic circumstances attending it, as appeared in 
the Boston Evening Post, June 13, 1768 : 

" Last Friday, a child of Mr. Michael Sylvester, of Hanover, about three 
years old, fell into a tub of hot water, and scalded one arm to the arm-pit, 
of which it died next day." 

" Builder Silvester " built mostly schooners, as they were in 
demand at this time. During the years 1700 to 1775, there 
was a great business done in cutting and selling wood through- 
out these towns, which furnished freight for many of the schoon- 
ers which did a coasting business from North River. In an old 
account-book, now in the possession of Miss Sarah Thomas, 
Marshfield, commencing with the date 1693, there appears in the 
wood business the names of John Rogers, Amos Sylvester, 
Ebenezer Sprout, Capt. Barker, and Nathaniel Winslow (who 
owned the book) . " Builder " or Nathaniel Silvester died Feb. 
21, 1781. His son Elijah was a ship-builder, but his son Na- 
thaniel succeeded him at the bridge yards. He continued here, 
building mostly schooners, until 1795, when the yard passed 
into the hands of Jonathan Sampson. Nathaniel Sylvester 
soon after removed to Winchendon, Mass. There is recorded 
one vessel surely built by him in 1786, Sch. "SWALLOW,'* 
68 tons ; built at Hanover, and owned by Nathaniel Winslow 
of Scituate, Nathaniel Silvester of Hanover, and others ; and 
in 1789 the Sch. " LYDIA," built at Hanover, afterward hail- 
ing from New Bedford, was probably built by him. 

^ A^ ^ built here from 

He was born in Pembroke (at Crookertown) , and probably 
descended from Henry Sampson, who arrived in Duxbury in 
1620, according to Winsor. He lived, after his first marriage, 
in the house now occupied by Aurora Sampson; but, after 



JONATHAN Samson's yard. 69 

taking the above yard, he is said soon to have accumulated a 
large fortune, for those days, building ships for the residents 
of Duxbury and Boston, and many vessels for the cod fishery 
at the Grand Banks. He built the " Caliban," 311 tons, re- 
ferred to later, which was the largest skip ever built at this yard. 
How they got her out of the river from here is a mystery. He 
is said to have built thirty-two vessels in Hanover. He is re- 
membered by the old residents as a very social man, and one 
of the many hospitable men of his day who loved their "eleven 
o'clock and four," and his wealth enabled him to indulge in all 
the luxuries of his time. He was honest and upright, and the 
traditions of fifty years ago say that he paid his men off by 
carrying to his yard a bushel of silver dollars, from which they 
paid themselves. This also speaks well for the honesty of our 
old shi})-carpenters. Soon after his first marriage, he built the 
house afterward used as a tavern, and later occupied by Sum- 
ner Stetson, now the residence of Ex-Mayor Bacon, late of 
Chelsea, Mass. It overlooks the old ship-yard, being located 
in Pembroke, near North River Bridge, on the hill just oppo- 
site, and on the other side of the river from the residence of 
the late Horatio Bigelow. 

In his palmy days he conceived the idea of erecting an ice- 
house for his own use. Many will remember having heard of 
Jonathan Sampson's ice-house. It was a new thing in those 
parts, at that time, and when Mr. Sampson built it, about half way 
between his house and the river, it became an object of much 
interest to the town's people, and excited a good deal of com- 
ment. It was built " upon honor," and during the winter packed 
full of ice. Ice being such a nov^elty in the summer time 
in those days in the country, he decided to wait until the middle 
of June before opening it, and then to iuA'ite all the prominent 
peoi)le, and especially ship-carpenters in the region round about. 
Accordingly on the day appointed, they all met at the ice-house, 
where Mr. Sampson had large quantities of lemons, brandy and 
sugar, and all that was wanting was the ice and water to make 
the celel)ration complete. An axe was procured and the door 
cut down, but to the amazement of all it was dry and warm as 
a summer's day inside. Mr. Sampson was very much disturbed, 
and the wag of the town, Joshua Stetson, coming up and asking 
him if he could hire the house for his wife to dry her apples in, 
did not make him feel any more comfortable. 

Jonathan Sampson married for his first wife, Chloe, daughter 



70 HISTORY OF VESSELS BUILT BY JONATHAN SAMSON. 

of Nathaniel Stetson. She was born in 1763. They had 
several children among whom were JNIelzar, Chloe, Timothy, 
John and Sarah. They have four grand-children now living, 
two in Medford, Alexander Sampson, who lives with liis son and 
daughter on High street, Duxbury, and Aurora Oldham Samp- 
son, married, lives in the old homestead and has several children. 
The stern posts of Jonathan Sampson's ships stood quite u\) to, 
and the staging was actualy over, the old road, which at this 
place Avas but 2i rods wide. The first vessel recorded as having 
been built by him was the ship "PEMBROOK," LS4 tons, for 
Nathaniel Cushing of Pemliroke. He also built, in 1801, the 
ship "BENJA]\IIN," 188 tons, of Boston, built at Hanover; 
and in 1802 the sch. "JANE," 98 tons, of Boston, built at 
Hanover. In 1803 it does not appear that he built any vessels ; 
but in 1804 he built the sch. "AMAZON," 107 tons, of 
Duxbury, built at Hanover, and in 1805 the ship "COR- 
DELIA," 252 tons, of Boston, built at Hanover. The two 
vessels named "MARTHA," were probably built by him. 
The first was the double decked bark "MARTHA," 255 
tons, 14 feet draft, built in 1805, at Hanover, Mass. Oak, iron 
and copper fastened. Sheathed with yellow metal, Nov. 1867. 
In 1872 used as a whaler from New Bedford. Capt. Gartland. 
Afterwards sold and put under the Dutch flag. She was owned 
in 1875 ])y Van Loon & Son of Harlinger, and may ))e in exist- 
ence now. Her name was changed to ^^ Marnix" when she 
was put under the Dutch Flag. The other "MARTHA," built 
in 1809, was a London Packet from Nantucket. In 1815 was 
whaling, and in 1849 she sailed for San Francisco, where she 
was broken up in 1851, being one of the many old vessels 
bought by companies of men who fitted them up to go to Cali- 
fornia during the gold fever. Jonathan Sampson built his 
large ship in 1811. The ship "CALIBAN," 311 tons, of 
Boston, built at Hanover, Jonathan Samson, M. C. In 1812, 
Jonathan Sampson also built a ship sold to James Penniman, 
Boston. Tradition says that Jonathan Sampson had a vessel 
buildinoj at the Brid2:e when the Embaro^o Act became a law. 
He left a vess'.l half finished on the stocks wdiere it stood during: 
the embargo, sometime after which it was finished. This 
was probably the vessel he launched in 1815, the ship 
"SARAH," 307 tons, of Boston. She was lost on the Arklow 
Banks off the coast of Ireland on the nisjht of the 15th of Feb- 
ruary, 1818. He built in 1816 the sch. "FAIR LADY," 104 
tons, of Kingston, built at Hanover. She M^as in the Atlantic, 



TUKNER, PALMER & MAGOUN. 71 

whalins:, in 1822. Also, in 1816 he built tv:o schooners, sold to 
Peter Windsor. Later he built the " WELCOME RETURN." 
He prol)al)ly built few vessels after the war of 1812. The 
Embargo was a severe blow to hira as it was to all shipbuilders. 
His first wife died previous to 1821, and he married for his 
second a young lady named Pliggins, and removed to Medford, 
havino; lost much of his fortune. 

Jonathan Sampson was succeeded at this yard by the firm of 
Turner, Palmer & Magoun, who had built at the Brick Kiln 
Yard in Pembroke, separately, and Turner also built at the Eox 
Hill Yard, in So. Scituate, nowNorwell. They had as many as 
three vessels on the stocks at one time. Their yards covered 
all of the land on the water-front of the present French estate. 
About the time the bridge was built they were obliged to 
change the position of their vessels built at the old yard, as it 
was found im[)racticable to launch from the former position on 
account of a rock in the river, and they moved a few rods l>elow 
the present l)ridge, as hereinafter stated. This firm built mostly 
small vessels. Barker Turner, the senior member, is said to 
have built twenty-two vessels for Scituate Harbor alone. He 
was a musician in the old military company, 2nd Regiment, in 
1815, and his descendants have been musicians ever since. 
Mr. Turner lived on the old Plymouth Road, towards the south 
from the bridge and at the corner of Brick Kiln Lane, in the 
house now occupied by his grandson, Charles Turner.* The 
Turners of Pembroke were nearly all shipbuilders or ship-car- 
penters in those days, and they so trained their children to the 
use of the broad axe and maul that to-day " the sight of a white 
oak tree that is large enough to make a shi})'s knee will make 
their eyes dilate and the nmscles in their arms and fingers con- 
tract with a desire to grasp the handle of a broad-axe and hew 
it into shape. No more ships will be built in the old yards, no 
more ship-carpenters will be seen wending their way in the 
early dawn to the old Brick Kiln Yard, through deep drifts of 
snow, even with the fences the entire length of Brick Kiln 
Lane. No more vessels loaded with the necessaries of life from 
]\Iedford, and whose weekly arrival brought joy and consolation 
to the strong as Avell as to the weak, will navigate the beautiful 
and winding river. Never again will be heard the twang of 
the maul or the ring: of the blacksmith's hammer. All these 



* See Brick Kiln Yard, continued chapter. 



72 JEDUTHAN PALMER. 

things have passed away, and the Sabbath stillness that pervades 
the locality is suggestive of a peaceful rest in a higher 
sphere."* 

Jeduthan Palmer,^ the second member of this firm was born 
in Hanover al)out 1786, on what was then known as the old 
Drink water Road (now Hanover street), near Randall's swamp, 
at the headwaters of the Beaver Dam Brook, in the house still 
standing in good repair and occupied by the family of the late 
Norman Chaml^erlain. His house was formerly the residence 
of Richard Fitzgerald, the first schoolmaster of the town, and 
later of Dr. Melzar Dwelley a noted physician in his time. 
The estate joined that of Rev. Benj. Bass, the first minister of 
the town, whose ordination was noticed in a paper at the time, 
as follows : 

" Hanover, Dec. 11, (1728). This Day was Ordained here the Rev. Mr. 
Benjamin Bass. The Rev. Mr. Gay of Hingham began with Prayer, and 
the Sermon on the Occasion was preach'd by the Rev. Mr. Sam'l Checkley 
of Boston, from Ezek. 3, 17, 18, 19. 'Son of man I have made thee a 
watchman unto the house of Israel : therefore hear the word at my mouth, 
and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou 
shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn 
the wicked from his wicked way to save his life : the same wicked man 
shall die in his iniquity • but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet 
if thou warn the wicked and he turn not from his wickedness nor from 
his wicked way he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy 
soul.' The Rev. Mr. Ells of Scituate gave the charge, and the Rev. Mr. 
Lewis of Pembroke the Righthand of Fellowship."— 7%e Ntw England 
Weekly Journal. 

Jeduthan Palmer was the son of Ephraim and Desire Old- 
ham Palmer and a lineal descendent of John Palmer, a farmer, 
who settled in the Plymouth Colony in 1657, and whose resi- 
dence was near Church Hill in what is now Norwell. His 
descendants built ships at Fox Hill and on the Chittenden 
Yard. John Palmer, Sen., belonged in Boston and was sent 
to Scituate as a Stock Raiser, by the Massachusetts Court. J It 
was probably John Palmer, Jr. , that was on the council of 
Gov. Andros, 1686-90, and who was sent prisoner to England 
with the Governor about the latter year.§ Jeduthan was 
al)out eleven years of age when his father died, in 1797, in 



* Article on Ship-building by John Tower in the North River Piotieer. 
t For further account of Palmer see Brick Kiln Yard, continued chapter. 
X See Colony Records, about 1635. 
§ See Drake's History of Boston. 




Jedutiian Palmer. 



TURNER, PALMER & MAGOUN. 73 

Hanover, and a few years later he was sent to Pembroke to 
learn the ship-carpenter trade of Calvin Turner. After serving 
his time, and having learned his trade, he married his master's 
daughter, Miss Sally, sister of Luther Turner. They began 
house-keeping at her home at the Brick-kilns, but afterwards 
removed to the Lapham House (so called) at the corner of 
Brick-kiln Lane, (formerly occupied by Christopher Jones the 
pump-maker, a native of North Carolina, who has descendants 
in Rockland), and later to the Jonathan Sampson house now 
owned and occupied by A. J. Bacon, Esq., a former Mayor of 
Chelsea. At this time Mr. Palmer commenced building vessels 
on his own account, and for a number of years he built at the 
Brick-kiln Yard, and also at the Yard where the present Bridge 
stands and in its near vicinity. In 1827 he was paid $6.00 for 
four and one half days work at Keen's Wharf on Foster's ship, 
** Lagoda." About 1830 he withdrew from the firm and pur- 
chased the house in So. Scituate where the late Roger Stetson 
resided, near the old Tom "Church's Hill Muster Grounds," 
and continued following the trade of ship-carpenter until he 
sold out, and removed "with his family to Waltham. Mr. 
Palmer had a family of nine children: 1. Charles, now living 
in Hanover. 2. Sally, who married a Mr. Brackett of Waltham, 
where she now resides. 3. Jeduthan, who went to sea and 
was knocked from the main boom and lost overboard. 4. 
Mary Ann, who married Gen. N. P. Banks, who was also 
Governor of Massachusetts, now residing with her family in 
Waltham, and whose daughter, Maud, is a distinguished actress. 
5. Amanda, now dead. 6. Alice, who married Mr. Seaman, a 
portrait painter and lives, we believe, in New York. 7. Julia. 

8. William, who we hear lives with his sister, Mrs. Banks. 

9. Daniel, who lives in Waltham. Mr. Palmer died at the 
residence of his daughter, Mrs. Banks, in 1858, or '59, after a 
long and useful life. Charles, his oldest son, born in Pembroke, 
July 18, 1812, was educated as a ship-carpenter and worked in 
Pembroke, Hanover, South Boston and Medford. AVhen al)out 
twenty-five years of age his mind became mysteriously affected, 
incapacitating him for work, not so seriously impairing his 
faculties, however, but that he is still able, at the age of 
seventy-eight, to enjoy life. He is social in his disposition, 
gentlemanly in his manners, and is an appreciative lover of 
music. 

The third member of this firm, Enoch Magoun, was bom 
near High street, Pembroke, about 1792, and died there in 



74 TUKNEK, I'AL^IER & MAGOUK. 

1840. Pie was son of Joshua, who lived near him and died one 
year later. They were ))ot]i sliip-lniilders.* This firm built 
one vessel in 1S27, hns^ " LYSANDER," 110 tons, built by 
Turner, Palmer & jNIagoun for Isaiah and Ichabod Alden and 
Matthew Hall, Scituate. In 1828 they had three vessels on 
the stocks at one time. The one farthest down stream was the 
brig 'TjARCLAY," lOG tons, of Newburyport, afterwards of 
"Westport, INIass. , built tit Hanover, by Turner, Palmer & ]\Iagoun. 
The next above was sch. " WOLGA," 73 tons, length 60 feet, 
breadth 17 feet, depth 7 feet, built at Hanover. Owners : Jesse 
Dunliar, Sr. and Jr., John Beal, Peleg Jenkins, Alfred, Catharine 
and Henry Clapp, Robert Paul and Seth Webb, all of Scituate. 
Slie was commanded by Capt. Chandler Chipp. Charles 
Howard of Pembroke went one voyage to No. Carolina in her. A 
raft of timbers was placed on the other side of the river for 
her to strike against, thus retarding her headway when launched, 
it being the custom at some yards, to prevent vessels from 
getting stuck in the mud on the opposite bank. She was built 
very full, and Joshua Stetson went down and looked at her 
just before she was launched, then proceeded to the store at 
Haliover Four Corners, where were assembled a group of men, 
]-)robal)ly ship carpenters. They asked him what he thought of 
the craft. He replied, " a very handsome vessel, gentlemen, 
l)ut an eighth of an inch too full on her lug water line."t She 
was finally lost at sea. 

The last of these A^essels, which were on the stocks at the 
same time this year, and the one nearest the bridge, was after- 
wards used as a North River Packet, and had one half as many 
owners as she was tons in size. This was the sloop 
"MAGNOLIA," 30 tons, built in 1828, length 50 feet, breadth 
17 feet, depth 4 feet. She was owned l)y Asa Sherman, 
Jonathan Stetson, Stephen Rogers, Elisha and Daniel Phillips, 
and Chandler Sampson of Marshfield ; Aldcn and Luther Briggs, 
Horace Collamore and Calvin Shepard and Ben. Rogers, 
Pembroke ; Gushing O. Briggs, Elisha Foster, Anson Bobbins, 
William Copeland and Henry Briggs, Scituate ; and Aurora 
W. Oldham, of Hanover. This schooner Barker Turner built 
lying up and down river or parallel to it. At the old }'ard in 



* See Pembroke Yards. 

t The term " lug water line" was often used in speaking of a vessel when the water 
line came at a poiiit on her hull, which caused her to lug a good deal of water under her 
stern. 



BARKER TURNER. 75 

Hanover, located where the present bridge now is, it happened 
just before the launching of this schooner, that Cyrus and Isaiah 
Alden Turner, (the latter commonly known as Alden Turner), 
then quite small, and both now living in Peml)roke, were play- 
ing in a boat on the river, and tinding a rock a few rods 
below the present middle pier of the bridge, Cyrus got out and 
stood on it, the Avater being nearly to the tops of his boots. 
His father, seeing him, called out to him to remain where he 
was, as the rock was not known to the builders. He did so, 
and it was found that in launching the vessel, she would 
probably strike on the rock, which was only two or three times 
her length from the ways, and in a line following the course 
she would take. They concluded, therefore, to launch her 
sideways, which was accordingly done, and she was taken 
through the channel, which was then on the north side of the 
rock. After this the vessels were built about six rods below 
the present bridge abutment. The work-house was in the rear 
of the yard, and for many years stood on the land owned by the 
late Dr. French, but was afterwards moved to Frank Arnold's, 
North Pembroke. Later still, the firm moved a little farther 
down the river, to the upper part of Elijah Barstow's yard, and 
just below the boat-house formerly owned by Clifford Kamsdell, 
now of Abington, and Eben C. Waterman, of Hanover. 
Vessels launched from this yard stuck in Sherman's meadows,, 
and often required bed-screws and other furniture to get them 
out. 

Sometime between 1829 and 1835 Palmer and Magoun with- 
drew from the firm, and the latter year Barker Turner built 
alone the sch. "PHILEXIA," 96 tons, of Boston, owned by 
John Peters, Charles Cole, Jr. and John C. Otis, of Scituate, 
which was built at Hanover. The next year he built 
two vessels, viz: 1836, sch. "QUEEN," 100 tons, of Boston, 
Barker Turner, M. C, built at Hanover, and the same year, 
1836, sch. "GARNET," 66 tons, of Provincetown, Barker 
Turner, M. C, built at Hanover. The "Garnet," Avas built 
entirely of pitch pine, not one stick of oak being used in her. 
She was in the fisheries for many years, and was the last vessel 
built at this yard, and probably the last built by Barker Turner 
alone, although he built the sch. "Roanoke" in company with 
Joseph L. Bates and others at Barstow's Yard in 1842.* The 



* See Barstow's Yard. 



76 BARKER TURNER. 

river is now so filled up with lilies and grass, which hold an 
accumulation of mud, that it is hard to realize that vessels of any 
size were launched into the stream at this point, but if it were 
thoroughly cleaned of all the mud to its good, hard, rocky 
bottom there would be to-day plenty of depth for vessels of 
equal size to lloat. 



CHAPTER V. 



MISCELLANEOUS YARDS IN PEMBROKE.— 1 793-1 803. 



NATHANIEL GUSHING, COL. GEORGE TURNER, THOMAS TURNER, 
ROBERT MAGOUN, JOB RANDALL, JR., EPHRAIM RANDALL, AND 

AARON SHERMAN. 



"\ 1 /"ITH the exception of the Brick-kilns, we have been unable 
* * to find the records of any vessels built in Pembroke pre- 
vious to the Revolution. It is impossible to tell which of the 
early vessels were built in Duxbury and which were built on 
what is now Pembroke territory. That the yards at Seabury 
Point and Job's Landing were used there is little doubt, and 
possibly Turner's yard ; but during the excitement of Revolu- 
tionary times, ship-building was probably like most other busi- 
ness, at a standstill. That the fever of excitement ran high in 
this vicinity is shown by the following, taken from the 3Icfssa~ 
chusetts Gazette and the Boston Weekly JVews Letter, March 2, 
1775: 

" The following is an address to Gen. Gage, presented by the Selectmen 
of six towns in the County of Plymouth, occasioned by a number of soldiers 
being stationed at Marshfield, in said county, in time of peace : ' To His 
Excellency, Thomas Gage, Esq. : May it please your Excellency, we. His 
Majesty's loyal subjects. Selectmen of the several towns of Plymouth, 
Kingston, Duxborough, Pembroke, Hanover and Scituate, deeply affected 
with a sense of the increasing dangers and calamities which menace one of 
the most promising countries upon the earth with political excision, cannot 
but lament that, while we are endeavoring to preserve peace and maintain 
the authority of the law, at a period when the bands of government are 
relaxed by violent infractions on the Charter of the Province, our enemies 
are practising every infictious stratagem to seduce the people into acts of 
violence and outrage. We beg leave to address your Excellency on a sub- 
ject which excites our apprehensions extremely, and in the representations 
of facts, we promise to pay that sacred regard to truth, which, had our 



78 rWMBEOKE DT TIXESt OF WAK. 

€taasej ci <y. We ar*; in- 

form/--' ■^' - ^rarsofifrld 

aoi: .. -ng the 

2^,; -vl pjr>- 

, a were 
f'-rmed 

. " ''rtl- 



r ... 



It 






: ' ■■\t^ 

. . . ... ..<« 



• Xi^ i^/^M* MA T^tUeur* Y»»//i, 



** 0^>cerz xwd P-rirzaxe^ iff ths PemOmke L.igi£ I 
SoScaers. — EarrJ" se- '- ^ - - - - ^ - _ ^ ------ -- —-_.=-- 

■JBESt rt 



abrrr- - 



It ^t^ accepted by tii-e ILa^igs. of tiihe Coisafaaj. 
»^il^:?. "sdao said : 



■W-^- 



fc_ir^T -L.-f- >ir-. 



yarzjzz=z - '—- ^ -r^z-iars ^Mliiies liTe. I3 wya'^^ -. - 

alcce cocnfined to ■' : : ^ eva- to be re-^xrded "wriidi ^r--" — 

fr:] v=-r=— ?~~- in e^ .: ■ -.-_._ -_';]*£ r*" r~~:" ■ "'Inere arsr":": . _- 

fif T-^ <=":- =~=- -^ .TTP rxHi hmtyiil- ^BPP -WTT 'rfcriiK 

CEliiS Itl "~ ' r='~'— — - 2-. . - _ - ..'."- 

DOC IS 2_5c cn.rr"i;r-2 r" ~-' _ . ; 
Tie c~rers and r ' - - r . 

k Circ-j::ri :>.ir. I: - . - 

to bill menn a? a fi-ee a^d TX-ited peocilie : . ..-::■ :.- 

destMve rise srerv— -f "~*^t ot scgs. oc^ 'TciI" . - r_^ 

lackers acri'tgrt : dieseacir:^ rise 5: j tn^ 

device toej ere--: T_ - _ --—rd. Iti?-?' - , : - - >-'"^^: 

zepirj.-T? of pe>re ; : . li tise r _ ..r recnro. we 

■Till rsHv irocr- / : . . . - - . " " ... ..."..;. .i 

riC'Clv resolve : . ^ . . . . . 



80 turner's siiir yard. 

Toast : " May the standard so ]iolitely given by the hulies, 
and so galhintly received by the Ensign, never be unfurled but 
in the defence of liberty." 

Miss Lucy Gushing may have lieen of the same family as 
Capt. Neheniiah Cushing, whose death, just pi'ior to the Rev- 
olution, is recorded in the MassacJiusetts ,Sjji/ or Tliomas' Boti- 
ton Journ(d, March 11 , 1775 : 

"Died, at Pembroke, Capt. Nehemiah Cushing." 

It will be seen from the above that I'embroKe was active 
during time of war, and her citizens were j^robably too patriotic 
not to lay by the broad-axe and plough. They gave their ser- 
vices, and in many instances their lives, to their country. 

Looking down the river from the North River Bridge, any 
time during the years 1799 to 1808, eleven ship-yards could 
have been seen filled with ship-carpenters, and with vessels in 
various stages of construction. First, on the right or Pembroke 
side was the Tamer Yard, located just below the ledge of rock 
extending east from the bridge, and called Rocky Reach. The 
Turners also built on the same side about one hundred feet 
below their u})i)er yard. Both yards were located on land now 
owned by Lorenzo Sherman. "Deane," of Scituate, and "Bar- 
ry," of Hanover, give the genealogy of the Turner family so 
fully that but little of value can be added. Col. Ezekiel Tur- 
ner was quite a prominent man of his day, and a notice of his 
death appears in Tlte BoMon Evening Post, JNIonday, Aug. 16, 
1773: 

" Died, at Hanover, Col. Ezekiel Turner, agre 73." 

Caleb Turner, who died in 1767, was great-grandson of 
Thomas of Hingham, and a ship-builder; but whether he built 
here is not known. I am inclined to think that George Turner 
built at Job's Landing, before coming up the river, and that 
this yard was occupied by Nathaniel Cushing before it was by 
the Turners. The following is taken from The Boston Evening 
Post, July 20, 1772 : 

"Married, Nathan Cushing, Esq., of Scituate, Barrister-at-l.nw, to Miss 
Abigail Tilden, of Pembroke." 

It is doubtful whether this was the same Nathaniel Cushing. 

Col. George and Tliomas Turner liuilt in Pembroke about 
A.D. 1800. Thomas had a son Thomas, who had, among other 



TURNER GENEALOGY. 81 

children, Thomas, now a wheelwright at Hanover Four Cor- 
ners, where he resides, and a daughter, now a widow, who 
resides near her brother. She married the late Dr. Ira Warren, 
who at one time was Principal of Hanover Academy, and was 
author of AYarren's "Family Ph3^'^ician," a most valuable book 
to families, and almost the Bible of many of the sea captains, 
by whom it is used the world over. The following is the gene- 
alojrv of a few of the Turners : 

Tlwmas Turner^ of Pembroke, married Joanna Phillips ; she 
died March 27, 1828. They had three children : Charles Tur- 
ner, born Sept. 8, 1766 ; married Ruth Thomas, of Pembroke, 
Jan. 7, 1789 ; died Aug. 9, 1804. Joanna Turner, born Dec. 
20, 1771 ; married Seth Whitman, of Pembroke, May 5, 1806. 
Thomas Turner, Jr., born Dec. 2'!, 1782; married Deborah 
Stockbridge, of Hanover, May 8, 1811 ; he died July 8, 1829. 
She died Oct. 15, 1882. 

CHILDREN OF DR. CHARLES AND RUTH TURNER ; GRAND-CHILDREN 
OF THOMAS, SR. 

Charles Turner, Jr., born June 8, 1789. John Phillips Tur- 
ner, born Sept. 12, 1792. Pie resided in Coals Mouth, Kana- 
wha Co., West Virginia. 

CHILDREN OF SETH AND JOANNA WHITMAN. 

Charles Henry Whitman, liorn Oct. 3, 1807 ; married Mary 
Delano, of Duxbmy, Jan. 17, 1831. Ann Phillips Whitman, 
born May 20, 1809 ; married Elisha Delano, of Duxbury, Dec. 
9, 1838; died June 9, 1841. Seth Wlrtraan, Jr., born Jan. 
31, 1811; married Sarah C. Goodspeed, of Duxbury, March 
2)i, 1839. Thomas Turner Whitman, born Feb. 16, 1813; 
married Rebecca Barker, of Pemln-oke, April 25, 1841. 

CHILDREN OF THOMAS AND DEBORAH TURNER. 

Thomas Turner, Jr., born Dec. 21, 1812 ; died Jan. 21, 1813. 
Ruth Stockbridge Turner, born Dec. 17, 1813; married Ira 
Warren, M.D. , of Boston, Nov. 27, 1834. Thomas Turner, Jr. 
(second of that name), born Nov. 22, 1815; married Susan 
Maria Thayer, of So. Boston, March 29, 1838. Jane Reed 
Turner, born Dec. 26, 1817; died Aug. 9, 1819. Charles 
Phillips Turner, born June 13. 1823. 



82 seabury's point yard. 

CHILDREN OF CHARLES AND MARY WHITMAN; GREAT-GRAND- 
CHILDREN OF THOMAS, SR. 

George Turner Whitman, bora Nov. 28, 1831 ; died Aug. 8, 
1833. Ann Eliza Whitman, born March 29, 1834. Seth Ber- 
nard l\niitman, born Dec. 17, 1839 ; died April 9, 1841. Henry 
Barker Whitman, born July 28, 1838. Peter Salmon Whit- 
man, born Nov. 23, 1842. 

CHILDREN OF THOMAS AND SUSAN MARIA THAYER TURNER. 

1. Thomas, born at So. Boston, Feb. 1, 1841 ; died Feb. 7, 
1841. 2. Susan J. , born Jan. 18, 1842 ; married J. W. Phinney, 
Oct. 30, 1868 ; died Dec. 8, 1882. They had children born in So. 
Boston : 1. Warren, born Aug. 20, 1869. 2. Arthur Thomas, 
born Nov. 6, 1873 ; died July 2, 1874. 3. Thomas, 2d, born July 
17, 1844; died May 18, 1849. 4. Adelaide W., born Sept. 
22, 1848, So. Boston; married J. F. Beale, Sept. 30, 1869, 
and now living in Brockton. They have one child, Lillian G. V. , 
born Aug. 12, 1870. 5. Charles P., born April 5, 1851; 
married Caroline I. Gushing, April 5, 1873 ; no children. 
6. Mary G., born Dec. 16,1854; married J. D. Fiske, Oct. 
5, 1881 ; no children. 



built in Pembroke alone, 
dTA^ f-y ^^^ in 1801, the Sch. "MAKY," 

^ ^ j^*-^ f •- When spoken of as build- 

ing alone, it is understood that the builder had no one in com- 
pany with him, so far as has been ascertained, though of course 
he had a large force of men under him. Also, in 18^01, he built 
the Sch. " SPANKER," of 103 tons, for Jubal Harrington and 
Joseph Chapin, of Boston. He built here, in 1803, the Sch. 
" ELIZA," of Boston, 39 tons, owned by Alden Briggs, Thomas 
and George Turner, Mercy Mandall, and David Church, of 
Pembroke. This was the last vessel on record as having been 
built at this yard. The indentation, where the saw-pit was 
located, can be seen at the present time, and some of the dis- 
placed rocks that once formed a wharf. 

The next yard in Pembroke was located at Seabury's Point, 
about one " reach " and a half below, and on the opposite side to, 
the Third Herring Brook. This yard is now grown up to woods, 
^vdlich are known as " Seabury's Woods." Robert Magoun is 
said to have built one vessel here, and Barry says that Col. 




« Tc 



H CO 

^ I 



job's landing. 83 

George and Thomas Turner built here at one time. Little is 
known of the Seaburys in this locality at the present day. The 
man from whom this Point received its name, was son of John 
Seabury, of Duxbury, who died before 1(362, leaving several 
daughters and two sons : 1. John, who went to Barbadoes. 
2. Samuel, born Dec. 10, 1640. Samuel was a physician, and 
lived in Duxbury in 1662. He owned land at the Gurnet, 
Island Creek, North River, and at the Brick-kilns. He mar- 
ried, first, at Weymouth, Patience Kemp, Nov. 9, 1660 ; sec- 
ond, Martha Pabodie, April 4, 1677. He died Aug. 5, 1681, 
leaving several children, who have descendants living on Cape 
Cod. 

Next below, on the Pembroke side, we come to the "Brict:- 
kilns Yard," to the history of which two chapters are devoted. 
Nearly a mile below the Brick-kilns, on the same side, is Job's 
Landing, where the packets called for freight ; and ships were 
built here prior to 1800. The landing is said to have been named 
after Job Randall, Jr.* It joined the ship-yard, and both were 
located on land formerly owned by Ephraim Randall, and now 
owned and occupied by Anson Hatch. Below are accounts of a 
few of the vessels that were built here : George Turner and 
Aaron Sherman probably built here, in company with the Ran- 
dalls, at one time. There was built, in 1793, Sch. "BETSEY," 
33 tons, owned by Ephraim Randall and David Church, of Pem- 
broke. Built at Pembroke, 1794, Sch. "RUTHY,"39 tons, 
owned by Ephraim Randall, Pembroke. 1796, Sch. "BET- 
SEY," 37 tons, owned by David Church, George Turner and 
Ephraim Randall, of Pembroke. Built at Pembroke, 1797, 
Sch. "ELIZA," 108 tons, of Pembroke; owned by Elisha 
Ford, of Marshfield. Also, in 1797, Sch. "POLLY," 23 tons, 
of Pembroke ; owned by Benj. Thomas, Samuel and John 
Jones, and Aaron Sherman, of Marshfield, shipwrio^ht, and in 
1799, Sch. "EVELINA," 109 tons, of Boston, afterward of 
Sandwich ; owned at one time by Ephraim Randall and Joseph 
Hunt, of Pembroke, and others. 

While the accounts of the above yards are far from complete, 
they are sufficient to prove to the reader that ship-building was 
carried on to a consideral)le extent daring the a])ove years ; 
and because the records of but few vessels have been found, it 
must not be inferred that only a few were built, for such is 
probably wot the fact. 



* See Chittenden Yard. 



CHAPTER VI. 



SMITH YARD. 1 792-1819. 

(afterwards EELLS' & BARSTOW'S YARD.) 



COL. JOHN BAILEY, DEA. ISAAC PERRY, JOSIAH SMITH, ALBERT 
SMITH, THOMAS SMITH, MILLER SMITH, BENJAMIN BASS, JR., 
WILLIAM DELANO, BEZAL EELLS, EDWARD EELLS, SAMUEL 
EELLS. 

npHE Smiths built in the ship yard previously occupied by 
■*■ Col. Juo. Bailey, back of the present residence of 
Edmund Q. Sylvester. This land was owned by David Stock- 
bridge, and he was paid rent at a rate per ton for the vessels 
built there. After the Smiths the Eells l)uilt here, and they 
were succeeded by the Barstows who moved here from their 
upper yard in 1817.* The Smiths also occupied a yard 
further "up river," the upper part of which yard had been 
used by Dea. Isaac Perry, and was then called Paige's yard. 
It was next the old Barstow & Eells yard at the " Two Oaks,'* 
and was located a little way above said yard. They also 
occupied the Dea. Isaac Perry yard between their lower 
yard and the "Two Oaks." Here the Smiths built their 
smaller vessels and used these yards when they were build- 
ing more vessels than they could accommodate at their 
lower yard. In 1819 J«siah Smith and Edward and Samuel 
Eells in company built a ship which was probably built here, as 
the Barstows then had possession of the lower yard. 

There seems to be no account of any particular vessels built 
by Dea. Isaac Perry, spoken of above, but he built here late 
in 1700, or until the yard was occupied by the Smiths, he 



* See Chapter on Barstow's Yard. 



EARLY SHIPBUILDERS ON THE SMITH YARD. 85 

having previously occupied the small yard next below the 
Clarks, also located on the land of the late J. O. French, 
]\I.D. He was son of Amos, grandson of AVilliam, and great- 
grandson of Thomas Perry, who appeared in Scituate before 
l(j47. Dea. Isaac was born Sept. 5, 173G, and died August 16, 
1825, aged 89. He married Jemima Farrow and lived near the 
corner of Htmover street, on the site where the late Josiah 
AVinslow lived, now Mr. Bower's residence. Of his children : 
1. Priscilla, married Elijah Packard in 1803. 2 and 3. Timothy 
and Isaac, went to St. Johns, X. B. 4. Betsey, married a 
Smith. 5. Ruth, w^ent to Maine. Isaac descended from the 
same common ancestor as E. Y. Perry, Esq., of So. Hanover. 
Dea. Isaac Perry built one vessel at the Kingman yard.* The 
oakum used at these yards was pre})ared at the alms-house ; 
the iron work was furnished by Robert and Joseph Eells. 

Hon. Albert Smith, Josiah Smith, Thomas and Millar Smith 
were brothers, sons of Dea. Josiah, grandsons of Rev. Thomas 
Smith of Pembroke, and great-grandsons of Joseph of Yar- 
mouth, Mass. Albert timith] took no personal part in the 
building of the vessels on North River, though he owned and 
sailed many of them, furnishing a part of the capital, and being 
a member of the firm with his brother Josiah. Capt. Albert 
was also proprietor of a store at "Hanover Four Corners." 
There were many men of superior intelligence at work on the 
yards in those days, who brought up profound questions for 
aroument, from which the younofermen gained much knowledge. 
Col. Samuel Tolman, Michael Ford, Elisha Bass, Col. John B. 
Barstow, Capt. Ichabod Thomas, William Delano and the 
Smiths M'ere among the number. 

Capt. Albert Smith was born March 22, 1703, married Anne 
L. daughter of Capt. Robert L. Eells, August 23, 1787. He 
settled in Hanover, in the old mansion house on Broadway, 
afterwards the home of the late Martin Stetson, and now owned 
by Daniel E. Damon, Esq. He died May 28, 1823, and his 
widow, who was born July 18, 1765, died May 7, 1835. They 
had children: 1. Anne L., born Oct. 4, 1788. 2. Joseph, 
born March 30, 1790. 3. Albert, born Jan. 3, 1793. 4. 
Mary, born Oct. 21, 1795. 5. John, born Dec. 10, 1797, died 
Sept. 5, 1813. 6. Thomas M., born August 15, 1799, died 



* See Miscellaneous Yards, Hanover, about 1800. 
t See Kurd's History of Plymouth Co., page 401. 



86 SMITH GENEALOGY. 

Jan., 1803. 7. Elizabeth, l)orn March 20, 1801. 8. Sarah B., 
born Nov. 23, 1802, died j-ouns;. 9. Sarah B., born Jan. 7, 

1808. 

Anne L., first child of Albert Sr., married Nathaniel 
Crooker, March 9, 1808. She died in 1846, he died Jan., 1847. 
No children are now living, but they have one grandchild in 
New York state, and one or two in the West. 

Rear Admiral Joseph Smith, second child of Albert, Sr., 
married Harriet Bryant of Maine. She died 1855, aged 58. 
He died March 17, 1879, in his 89th year. They had four 
children, two daughters, one of whom died in infancy, the other, 
Anna, is unmarried and resides in AVashington. Both sons 
were naval officers. Albert died in Boston. Joseph's life was 
sacrificed for his country while in command of the " Congress," 
when she was sunk by the "Merrimac.''* 

Albert, Jr., third child of Albert, Sr. , married Eoxa Shat- 
tuck, June 24, 1814. He died May 29, 1867, aged 74 years, and 
his wife a few years later. They had two daughters, both now 
living. Annie Lenthal, who married Horatio Bigelow of 
Boston, and Adeline, who married Dr. Whelan of the Navy, 
Horatio Bigelow died in Boston, Oct. 25, 1888. His widow 
and the following children survive him. 1. Horatio Ripley, a 
physician, who married Sarah Z. Batten, at Baltimore, and 
resided in Washington, D. C, until recently, when he went 
abroad. 2. Adeline A. 3. Albert S., who was married at 
Grace Church, Baltimore, Maryland, Nov. 4, 1875, to Mary 
De Ford of Baltimore, and they have three sons born as 
follows; Horatio, Jan. 11, 1877; William De Ford, Jan. 29, 
1878; Albert Francis, Oct. 4, 1880. 4. Joseph S., was 
married at Trinity Church, Boston, in April, 1877, to Mary 
Cleveland Bryant, of Boston. The births of his children are as 
follows: Joseph Smith, Feb. 16, 1878; Henry Bryant, Oci . 
3, 1879 ; Arthur George, Dec, 1881 ; Cleveland, March, 1883 ; 
Mary Cleveland, Nov. 29, 1884. 5. Annie S., married Oct. 
28, 1884, at the Church of the Advent, Boston, Thomas Nelson 
of Marshfield. 

]\Iary, fourth child of Albert Sr., married Capt. David 
Whittier of Belfast, Me., Sept. 27, 1815. She died July 19, 
1848. He died Oct. 8, 1849. They had two daughters, 1. 



* See Kurd's History of Plymouth Co. 



SMITH GENEALOGY. 87 

Marianna, married Mr. Madigan of Houlton, Me., since de- 
ceased. She still resides at Houlton and has several children, 
and, 2, Harriet, wU'^ ' unmarried, and resides in Washington. 

Elizabeth, seventh child of Albert, Sr., married Samuel 
Salinond of Hanover, July 20, 1820. He died May 25, 1859, 
aged 70 years, 10 months.* She is still living at the old home- 
stead on AVashington street in her 89tli year. They have had two 
sons and two daughters. The oldest son, Robert, a promising 
youth, died Oct. 18, 1845, aged 18 years. The other son died 
in infancy. Maiy, the eldest daughter, married E. Q. Sylves- 
ter, and died leaving three children. Eliza the second daughter, 
afterwards married E. Q. Sylvester. | 

Sarah B., ninth child of Albert, Sr. , married Joseph Eells, 
Jr., ]\Iarcli 11, 1829. He died in the West, probably in 
Arkansas, where she died, April, 1889. They had a family of 
eight children who reside in the West and South. 

builder, brother 
of Albert, Sr., 
was born jNIarch 
2, 1707, mar- 
ried 1st, A'^ab- 
by, daughter of 
Capt. Roliert 

Lenthall Eells, March 13, 1794. She died Aug. 3, 1812; 
married 2nd, Jane, daughter of Jeremiah Smith, and died in 
Hanover, April, 24, 1842, aged 75. Jane, his wife, died 1850. 
He had children. 1. Nabby E., born Aug. 26,1795, married 
Theo. Whitney, of Niagara, N.Y., and died in 1870, no children. 
2. Lucy W., b. Nov. 12, 1790. (For descendants of Lucy, 
see account at end of this family.) 3. Ruth C, b. Jan. 2, 
1798 ; d. 1874, unmarried. 4. Elizabeth B., b. May 20, 1799. 
(For account of Elizabeth, see end of Lucy's family.) 5. Mary 
L., b. Oct. 20, 1801 ; mar. Edward E. Nash, of Medford, :\rass., 
and d. in Arkansas, leaving children and grandchildren. 6. 
Josiah Miller, b. Feb. 12, 1803 ; mar., 1st, Frances Waterman , 
of Scituate ; she d. April 12, 1X54, aged 46; 2nd, Charlotte 
AYaterman Baile}', a widow, tuid sister of his first wife ; no 
children 




^^A--^^iyt/yy(j 



* See continued chapter on North River. 
t See chapter ou Bridge Yard 



88 SMITH GENEALOGY. 

Lucy in, second child of Josiah. the builder. m;ir. in 1819, 
"William Little Loving, M. D., of Duxburv. He was a grad- 
uate of Harvard College, and a lineal de^oendant, in the tifth 
generation, on his mothers side, of John and Priseilla Aldeu. 
Their children were : 1. Lucy Williams, b. April 20, 1820 ; 
mar. in the Episcopal Church in Hanover, Eev. Dr. Samuel 
Crothers Logan, of Indiana, Aug. 17, 1852. He was a Pres- 
byterian, a graduate of Princeton, and was settled in Constan- 
tine, Mich., in Cincinnati, O., and Valparaiso, Lid. For 
twenty-one years he has been pastor of the First Preslnterian 
Church of Scranton, Pa. They have had live children ; two 
have died, and three are now living in Scranton, viz. : Harry 
Vannuys. a physician, b. !May 21. 18,i3 : Arthur Collin, a law- 
yer, b. Oct. 23, 1854 ; and Lillie, who mar. Judge Henry A. 
Knapp. 2. Benjamix "Williams, b. Oct. 14, 1821 ; who was in 
the Union Xavy during the Rebellion, later in the Revenue 
Marine Senice, and now on the retired list. In 18(i(>, he mar. 
Xellie Cahoun, of Morrisiana, X. Y., and they have had five 
children. The following are now living : Benjamin Williams, 
Jr., b. May 10, 1867 ; John Alden, b." March *G, 18(^!> ; Xano 
Jennie Gladden, b. April 17, 1879. 3. Makia Kittredge, b. 
Feb. 23, 1823; mar., in 1850, James "W. Carswell. a Georgia 
planter, who d. in December, 1885. She resides in Baiton, 
Ga., and has had four children : Lucy, d. 1878, aged 27 : 
"William, d. 1878, aged 25; Lillie, mar. a merchant ; ^Mnry, 
mar. a physician. The above three chiklren of Dr. William L. 
and Lucy Loring were b. in the old Loriiig homestead, in West 
Duxburv. The remaining four children were b. in Springfield. 
4. Mary Lexthall, b. 1825 ; d. aged 11 months. 5. Bailey 
Hall, b. Dec. 12, 1827 ; went to California, where he was cap- 
tain in the Home Guard during the war, and d. unmarried at 
Sierra, Cal., Feb. 14. 1874. 6. Eliza, b, Aug. 5, 1832 ; mar. 
Jan. 23, 1S73, Rev. Heiwey Logan Vannuys, of Goshen, Ind. ; 
no children living. 7. Sophia Bradford, b. April 14, 1836. 
Over two years of her life have been spent in Beirout, Syria, 
where she taught in a young ladies' seminary. She mar. 
Sept. 24, 1885, "Rev. Dr. William M. Taylor; no children. 

EJizaheth £., fourth child of Josiah, the l)uilder, mar. Am- 
brose Packard, of Niagara, X. Y. ; both now dead. They had 
children : Ambrose, d.. leaving a widow but no children ; Jo- 
siah, mar., and lives in Providence, R. I., where he has several 
children; Rhoda, mar. a Dr. Palmer, of Canada; Ralph, mar., 
and lives in Brooklyn, X. Y. 




& 


«* 










<X> IX 


















«*\^ 


_;; 




-2 


1' 












i- 




t:-^ 


<D 




o 


^ 




0^^ 


3 






V} 




TS i 






.p <e 










T! 


yj2 


I-, 


»i 




^ 


tH 


« :::: 


as 




mw 


1 


o 




T3 




-3 
- -"'-T3 


. ed 

•a CO 



« B K 1^ •- CL. □ c .»> a, t^ 
OO-M c => JS o '^^ t^ '^ W 



:h2 



0) vj 



s s <> 

lo tS S >- J 



•dcQdOpq'fildWt-ifcdi-JS 



M 



THE SMITH SHIP YARD. 89 

Caj)f. Thomas Smith was b. March 22, 1775. He lived in 
Pembroke, but Imilt in Hanover, and sailed many of the ves- 
sels l)uilt by himself and brothers. He d. unmarried, in Xova 

Scotia. 

JSIUJer Smith (or ^Nlilliar, as it was sometimes written) was 
b. Feb. 9, 1782. He built alone and in company with his 
brothers, and was also captain of some of the vessels. He was 
washed overboard at sea, and lost, near the "Three Sand Hills," 
on the coast of Noi-th Carolina. He mar. Jane, dau. of David 
Stockbridoe, Esq., and they had one dau., Jane S., who mar. 
Gen. A. W. Oldham, of Pembroke, Mass. 

The Sch. "Hazard," under Capt. Albert Smith, who sailed for 
Nehemiah Somes, Eben Wales, and Moses and Aaron Davis, 
was, in 1789, at Cape Francois (probably Old Cape Francis), 
on the Island of Hispaniola, now Santo Domingo. The first 
vessel there is any account of as having been built by the 
Smiths, was in 1792, Brig't'n "APOLLO," 139 tons, of Bos- 
ton. This vessel was commanded by Capt. Albert Smith, and- 
broken up at the Vineyard about 1825. The next record found 
is in a letter from the Smiths, dated Hanover, INIarch 10, 1795. 
They set forth the "contract of a vessel oi 115 tons" which 
they were Iniilding, as follows : 

" Dimensions, 57 feet 4J inches keel ; 10 feet hold ; 22 feet beam. 
To be built of good, sound, white oak timber, and planked. * * * Cal- 
culated to sail fast and carry a good burthen ; to finish the upper 
work as may best suit the owners ; to be completed the first day of 
July next." 

In 1796, Albert Smith built a hrig for Nehemiah Somes, and 
in 1797 was built the ship "EOMULUS," 2(34 tons, of Boston; 
owned by Albert Smith, Hanover ; Josiah Smith, builder. This 
was probably tlie same " Romulus " which was wrecked and con- 
demned at Honolulu, H. I., 1849, then fifty-two years old. 
The Sch. "RESOLUTION" was built by the Smiths about this 
time. Also, the "DILIGENCE" was probably built before 
1799. Half her cost, as per bill, was £1406. Josiah built for 
Albert Smith, in 1799, the ship "AURORA," 244 tons. The 
ship-carpenters were : Tilden Crooker,* who, with his boys, 
worked on a sloop in the same 3'ard in 1802 ; Elijah Randall, 
who lived near Randall's Swamp, in HanoA^er, and others. Two 



* See Bridge Yards. 



90 THE SMITH SHIP YARD. 

compasses for the " Aurora " cost £1 4s. The anchors cost, at 
Reuben Curtis' fors^e, £81. He also built another vessel the 
same year, 1799, the ship "CICERO," 227 tons. Elisha Cur- 
tis, who calked her, lived on the Recompense Tiffany place. 
Those who worked on her otherwise were : Belcher Clark, Wil- 
liam Copeland, Benj. Bass, Jr., Elijah Sylvester, Benj. Dwel- 
ley, Charles Sprague, who lived in the house now occupied by 
Thomas Hunt, So. Scituate, Isaac Perr}', Michael Ford, INIi- 
chael Stetson, Elijah Randall, Reuben Curtis. Half the ship 
" Cicero" was sold for £1603 17s. 6d., to Capt. Thomas Smith. 
The third vessel they built this year, 1799, was the ship "BP^T- 
SEY." Elijah Randall and the other men worked on her. 
Durino; the next year, 1800, they built two vessels, and started 
a third, a schooner. The first was the ship "DEDALUS." 
The ship-carpenters were : Benj. Bass, Jr., Elijah Sylvester, 
Benj. Dwelley, and Isaac Perr}^, who also made the rudder for 
£2 8s. Elijah Randall and Timothy Robbins, who also worked 
on a schooner and a gundalow in this yard the same year, and 
others. Also in 1800, the ship " NEPTUNE," of 280 tons, for 
New York parties ; Josiah Smith , builder. Michael Stetson 
did the joiner work, and also on a brig of 93 tons in 1801. 
The anchors came from Reuben Curtis' forge ; weighed 2706 
pounds, and cost over £89. In 1824, the "Neptune" hailed 
from New London, and was in the South Seas, whaling ; in 
1850, in the Indian and Northern Pacific Oceans, and in 1857 
was sold and broken up at the Sandwich Islands. 

1801 was the " Red Letter" year for these yards. During 
this year, six vessels were launched from the two Smith yards, 
all of good size. Josiah Smith was the builder of four, and 
master carpenter of the other two. No other firm, and no yard 
on the river except the Wanton Yard, can show a record equal to 
this ; and to see the quiet spot, at the present writing, it is hard 
to realize that six large vessels were launched l)y one firm dur- 
ing one year, besides many others, all from the shores of Han- 
over, below the bridge, but such is the fact. The first vessel 
launched here this year, w\as built by Josiah Smith for his 
brother Albert. This was the ship "HANOVER," 281 tons. 
Ship-carpenters employed on this vessel were Charles Sprague , 
Michael Ford, Josiah Smith, Jr., Reuben Curtis, who also fur- 
nished anchors for the "Hanover" for £93 6s. Robert and 
Joseph Eells did the iron work for $973.26. In January, 1804, 
the ship "Hanover," then under Capt. Barney, was at Sumatra. 
Josiah Smith built, for his brother Albert of Hanover, and 



WM. OR "bill" corlew. 91 

Thomas of Pembroke, and others, in 1801, the ship "GAR- 
LAND," 280 tons. Ship-carpenters employed on this vessel 
were Jabez Witherell, Benjamin Dwelley, Turner Stetson (who 
also worked on a brig and ship previously on this yard, and 
was paid £3, 14s. for getting one of these vessels over the 
shoals), Nath. Stetson, father of Harrison Stetson, who now 
lives on S])ring street, in Hanover ; Isaac Bowen Barker, a 
Pembroke Quaker, who did planking on a brig and ship |n"e- 
viously ; Isaac Cox, Peml)roke ; Enos Palmer, of Church Hill ; 
Reuben Cuilis, Elijah Sylvester, who worked planking on many 
of the vessels, and helped to get them down river; Job Hall, 
Abner ]\Iagoun ; also Wm. Corlew, or Bill Corlew, as he was 
familiarly known, who was a descendant of Edward, who came 
from the north of England prior to 1730, and was wrecked on 
the beach near the mouth of North River. Many were lost, but 
Edward was among the saved. William was a good-hearted 
fellow, but finally succumbed from too much indulgence in the 
"ardent," a result too common even at this day. Ephraim Stet- 
son kept a grog-shop, where the drug-store now is, at the Four 
Corners. That corner was called, by the temperance people, 
" Stetson's Shoals." The following letter, on the death of Bill 
Corlew, written by Squire Wood to an old ship-builder, ex- 
plains itself: 

" Tuesday Morning, Nine O'clock. 
Dear Sir : — I hasten to inform you of the melancholy tidings 
just received, of the loss of the ' Bill Corlew,' an old and success- 
ful steamer of 250-horse power. The ' Bill Corlew ' has had her 
hull frequently strained and damaged, wdiile beating in the fog oft' 
and on ' Stetson's Rocks,' and though she has long successfully 
navigated herself, yet repeated disasters had so enfeebled her that her 
boiler failed about eight o'clock this morning, and she immediately 
sank, beyond soundings, of course, a total loss. The Distilleries of 
New England, by whom the 'Bill Corlew' was wholly owned, 
will shortly have a meeting to settle her concerns, and probably pur- 
chase or charter one or more steamers to supply her place. It is not 
expected that it will be so difhcult as it has been to supply steamers 
on this dangerous navigation, as it is reported that the ' Massachu- 
setts Charitable Society ' intend furnishing several safety barges to 
ply off' ' Stetson's Rocks,' to relieve those who may be wrecked 
thereon, and save them from the bottomless gulf that beats upon this 
dangerous place. And it is further currently reported that some 
humane members of the ' Hanover Temperance Societv,' residing 
on the borders of said Rocks, are now daily acquainting themselves 
with this navigation, not to supply the place of the ' Bill Corlew,' 
but with the laudable design, no doubt, of administering relief to 



92 BENJ. BASS, SHIPBUILDER. 

those unfortunate souls who are here obliged to sacrifice their com- 
forts and their lives. Any further information shall be promptly 
communicated. 

Yours, &c., Spy. 

P. S. — The ' Bill Corlew' was launched in Scituate about the year 
1770; originally built on the low-pressure principle, but altered to 
that of the high-pressure about twenty-five years since, since which, 
by the daring inclination of her commander, she has always borne 
the highest steam. It is not known whether any passengers were on 
board at the time her boiler failed ; if so, they must have made a 
hasty, though reluctant retreat. All property on board was inevita- 
bly lost, and not a wreck is left behind." 

He left no descendants. The next vessels built and launched 
in 1801 were the ship " FAME " and the brig " FAME." These 
two vessels were on the stocks at the same time. Amonsj the 
ship-carpentei-s employed were Benj. Dwelley, uncle to Capt. 
JS^athan Dwelley, and great-uncle to Robert E. Dwelley, of 
Hanover; Nathaniel Stetson, Enos Palmer, Job Hall, Elisha 
Curtis, Jr., and Jabez Witherell. Josiah and Albert Smith 
built these vessels toaether. The same year they launched the 
Brig't'n "CAMILLA," 108 tons, for Stephen Gorham, Boston. 
The ship-carpenters were Benj Bass, Enos Palmer, and others. 
Josiah Smith, Jr., builder. The sixth and last vessel launched 
in 1801 was the ship " MARY," 211 tons, of Boston. Built 
for William H. Borman, Josiah Smith, Jr., builder. Benj. 
Bass and the carpenters who were employed upon the other 
vessels, worked on, or furnished material for, the "Mary." 

The next year, the Smiths built three vessels : The sloop 
" HECTOR," 61 tons, built in 1802 by Josiah and Albert 
Smith; and the same year, 1802, the sloop "BETSEY," 65 
tons, l)uilt by Josiah Smith, and sold to Plymouth ; afterward 
owned by Samuel and Abel Lunt, of Newburyport. This was 
pr(jl>ably the same " Betsey " which is recorded at the Boston 
Custom House as having been " taken by the French, papers 
detained, and vessel destroyed." The ship " PEARL " was 
built in 1802, by Josiah Smith, Jr., and Benjamin Bass, Jr., for 
Capt. Albert Smith. 

Benjamin Bass, who built here, in company with Josiah 
Smith, was the son of the Rev. Benjamin Bass, first pastor of 
the First Church in Hanover. He lived on Broadway, near the 
corner of Spring street, in the house later occupied by his son 
Elisha, and where Charles Dyer now resides. Benj. Bass has 
descendants living in Rockland. 



VfM. DELANO AT SMITH'S YARD. 93 

In 1803 was built the ship " AIMERICA," 280 tons, of Balti- 
more, by Josiah Smith, master carpenter ; Miller Smith, master ; 
Albert and IMiller Smith, owners ; and, in 1804, the ship 
" MERCHANT," 263 tons, of Boston ; Josiah Smith, master 
carpenter. In 1804-5, Milliar Smith built a s/up for Capt. 
Albert Smith. There was also built here in 1805, the ship 
" INTREPID," 282 tons, of Plymouth ; Josiah Smith, master 
carpenter; owned by Thomas Smith, Pembroke, and All)ert 
Smith, Hanover. They built two vessels in 180(5 : The ship 
"LYDIA," 280 tons, of New Bedford, Josiah Smith, master 
carpenter; and their second, ship "NEPTUNE," 278 tons, of 
Boston ; owners, Thomas Smith and others ; Josiah Smith, mas- 
ter carpenter. This " Neptune " was lost at sea in 1807. In 
1807, Thomas Smith built, in Hanover, the ship "UNION," 
231 tons. Owners, Albert Smith, Hanover; Thomas Smith, 
Pembroke ; Milliar Smith, Scituate, and others. The same year,, 
Josiah built the Sch. "PILGRIM," 62 tons, which he sold, in 
1809, to Albert Smith and Edward Eells. After the "Pil- 
grim," the Smiths did not build any vessels alone, but were 
interested, especially Josiah, in the vessels built by the Eells 
for several years ; and in 1810, Josiah Smith and Edward Eells 
built a schooner in company. 

In 1811, WiUiam Delano* built a large ship in Hanover, and 
probably at this yard, viz. : ship "LADY GALLATIN," 358 
tons, of Hanover, William Delano, master carpenter ; Miller 
Smith, master. It took a great deal of liquor, in those days, 
to build a vessel, which was charged to the vessels as was the 
material used in buildins- them. This was done on all the 
yards. The following are copies of two charges from an old 
account book : "To 78 gallons West India Rum, drunk in the 
summer of 1811, while at work on vessel ***** *^ $104.' 
In 1813, " To 80 gallons Gin and Rum, from March 22nd to 
August 25th, at 9s., $120." Later, the use of liquors was dis- 
continued in the yards. 

In 1789, the Sch "REVENUE," 27 tons, was built in Han- 
over, and owned by Robert and Barzilla Eales, Hanover; An- 
thony Waterman, Sr. and Jr., Scituate. It was afterward sold 
to Beverly. This was probably built by " Bezal " Eells, as they 
used to call him, who was a shipwright,! but at what yard he 



* See Wanton Yard Chapter, Scituate. 

t See Barstow Yard Chapter, for account of the Eellses, 



f- 



■94 EDWARD AND SAMUEL EELLS. 

built is not known. Edward and Samuel Eells succeeded to 
the Smith Yard about 1809-10. (Samuel Eells was Adjutant 
of the First Brioade, Fifth Division, Second Reiriment, Scituate 
Militia, 1813.)" They built the Sch. " MERT," 131 tons, at 
Hanover ; owners, Albert and ]\Iilliar Smith and Edward Eells ; 
and the ship "SAMUEL," 310 tons; owners, Josiah Smith, 
Edward and Samuel Eells, after wdiom it was prolnibly named. 
In 1811, they commenced building a very large vessel, which, 
owing no doubt to results of the destructive Embargo Act, was 
not finished until 1815, when it was sold to Mr. Marcy. This 
was the ship " EDWARD," built in 1815, 346 tons, two decks 
and three masts, length, 102 feet, breadth, 27 feet, depth, 18 
feet; owners, Miller Smith, who was captain of her; Edward 
Eells, the master carpenter, and Samuel Eells, Hanover. In 
1816, they built a hrigy which was their last, excepting the ship 
spoken of in the beginning of this chapter. The Eells were, 
In 1817, succeeded by the Barstows, as stated elsewhere. 

" Poets " were not uncommon among the ship-builders on 
North River, and the Smith Yard had one who put in rhyme 
many of the occurrences of his time. A party of prominent 
ship-builders, and men interested in shipping, went to Scituate 
Harl)or, on horseback, intending to go lobstering, an excursion 
frequently taken in those days. So eventful was their journey 
that the following description of it was written, which many of 
the older people " know by heart " : 

Come now, my friends, and pray attend, 

While I to you relate 
What I've been told. I'll now unfold 

Of ****** and his mate. 

It happened so, not long ago, 

There sailed a Yankee fleet ; 
While on their route, not passage out, 

They met with a defeat. 

From Corners Four, their course they bore. 

With a light and pleasant gale ; 
Their course they shaped for Scituate, 

While under easy sail. 

While on this tour, six knots an hour 

They made by calculation. 
For 'twas but five when they arrived 

At their point of destination. 




^£^^^^^^ <^^^^ 



LOBSTEU EXCURSION TO SCITUATE HARBOR. 95 

They moored their ship, and lowered their peak, 

And hoisted out their barge ; 
And then did they, without delay, 

Their cargo soon discharge. 

This being done, they then begun 

To be a little merrie ; 
And round did pass the social glass. 

While all hands sung out " Steady." 

Then quickly they got under way, 

And gave the sailing cheer ; 
The wind was light, and just at night 

They all for home did steer. 

But soon came on a direful storm, 

Which shattered much their fleet ; 
And e're next day were cast away. 

And foundered in the street. 

The Frigate * * * * was driven on 

The little smelt brook shoal ; 
And then she bilged, and quickly filled, 

And lost was every soul. 

The ship astern could now discern 

Their sad and doleful fate ; 
And then to save did dangers brave. 

But, ah ! it was too late. 

The head ship wore, and down she bore, 

Under a press of sail. 
To give relief; but with much grief 

She saw her efforts fail. 

Then, with great speed, she did proceed 

To examine all around ; 
And of her crew, she found but two 

Lie prostrate on the ground. 

One of them fast, with a lobster gaft 

Directly through his leg : 
So bruised was he, no doubt could be, — 

They took him up for dead. 

The other one had now begun 

To call for some relief; 
For, searching round, they quickly found 

He'd loosened all his teeth. 



96 LOBSTER EXCl i;8IOX TO 8CITUATE HARBOR. 

Nor was tliat all, for in his fall, 

In tr\ing to get by. 
On that stone bed he hit his head, 

Which gave him one black eve. 

No time to waste, but in great haste 

The doctor thev did call ; 
He examined well their wounds, to tell 

If he could cure them all. 

" Be not afraid," to them he said, 
" Your wounds I soon shall cure ; 

Now go to bed, and grease your head, — 
From harm you are secure." 

And now 'tis passed, and they at last 

Are likely to recover ; 
The doctor savs, in thirty days 

They both may take another. 



CHAPTER VII. 



BARSTOW'S "TWO OAKS," AND LOWER YARDS. 

1760 — 1846. 



THOMAS BAESTOW, CAPT. ROBERT LENTHAL EELLS, NATHANIEL 
BARSTOW, THOMAS BARSTOW, JR., COL. JOHN B. BARSTOW, 
DEA. ELIJAH BARSTOW, ABNER STETSON, MICHAEL FORD, JR., 
ISRAEL H. SHERMAN, COL. JOHN BAILEY, CAPT. ELIJAH BAR- 
STOW. JR., BARKER TURNER, JOSEPH S. BATES. 



THOMAS BARSTOW and Capt. Robert Lenthal Eells built 
at the yard marked, until within comparatively a fewyear^, 
by two gigantic white oaks, at least three centuries old. The 
yard was located between Isaac Perry's and Paige's yards. It 
was occupied by Messrs. Barstow & Eells for about thirty years, 
when they were succeeded by Mr. Barstow's sons. Thomas 
Bavstoio was son of Benjamin and grandson of William. (See 
Bridge Yard.) He was born Feb. 27, 1732, and died in 1797. 
He lived in Norwell, near Palmer's Bridge, by the Third Her- 
ring Brook, where now resides his grandson, Capt. Elijah Bar- 
stow. During the Revolution he l)uilt several small })rivateers, 
some of which were for Mr. Derby, of Salem. It was his 
brother James who built at the old yard by the Bridge. His 
brother Gideon, also his nephews, Gideon, Wilson, Benjamin, 
Elias, and his grand-nephews, James, Calvin, Wilson, and Na- 
than H., were ship-])uilders in Mattapoisett, where many of 
their descendants now live. He was great-grandfather of Benja- 
min B. and Herbert Torrey, of Hanover. 

In 1792, Joshua Barstow, proprietor of Barstow's Forge (see 
Chapter I.), had a vessel built by his cousins, and named it 
after his Forge. 1792. Sip., afterward Sch., " NEW FORGE,'' 



98 BAR8TOW & EELLS. 

37 tons, of Hingham ; owners, Geo. Turner, Nathl. Cashing, 
Thos. Hubbard, Joshua Barstow, and others. She was built in 
Hanover. The second meml)or of the firm, Caj^t. Robert Leu- 
tlial EeVlx^ was a direct descendant of John, through Samuel, 
and Nathaniel and Samuel. John was among the early settlers 
of Dorchester. His son Samuel commanded a garrison at Dart- 
mouth, Mass., in King Philip's War, 167(), and married Anna, 
daughter of the Rev. Robert Lenthal, for whom Ca})t. Robert 
was named. Nathaniel, son of Samuel, a graduate of Harvard, 
1699, was a minister over the Second Church in Scituate, and 
married Hannah North, of Hingham, aunt of Frederick, Lord 
North (afterward Prime jNIinister of George III.). Samuel, 
son of Nathaniel, was also a minister, and married Hannah, 
great-granddaughter of Rev. William Witherell, of Scituate.* 
Capt. Robert Lenthal Eells lived on the site now occupied by 
the residence of his great-grandson, Robert E. Dwelley, at Han- 
over Four Corners. During his partnership with Thomas Bar- 
stow, he superintended the iron work of the vessels, and ]\Ir. 
Barstow the wood work. Capt. Eells' blacksmith shop stood 
on one of Hanover's Four Corners, near his residence, and op- 
posite the hotel property. The black earth in the field now 
marks the si)ot. Capt. Eells also did the iron work of vessels 
built at many of the other yards. His sons Robert and Joseph 
succeeded him in the iron or blacksmith trade. His sons Ed- 
ward and Samuel w^ere shipwrights, and built at North River 
(see Smith Yards) ; also his nephew, Bezal, w^ho died in INIaine. 
Ca})t. Robert Lenthal Eells was one of the wealthiest citizens 
of his day. Barry says, " He was an extensive landholder, a 
man whose chief greatness consisted in the greatness of his 
soul; of unbounded hospitality, charitable, patriotic; an able 
oflScer in the war of the Revolution, who opened his doors 
cheerfully to all who were engaged in that struggle, and whose 
daughters evinced their zeal for lil)erty in ministering to the 
wants of the soldiers, and in manufacturing cartridges for the 
use of the companies enrolled in the town." His daughter Bet- 
sey married Col. John B. Barstow, and his daughter Lucy mar- 
ried Dea. Elijah Barstow, who, with his brother. Col. John, 
succeeded to the business at this yard. In other words, two 
sisters married two brothers, so their descendants are doubly 
related to this firm. The late John P. Eells, whose widow now 



• For a complete a<5count of the genealogy of the Eells family, see Barry's His- 
tory of Hanover. 



BARSTOW AND EELLS GENEALOGY. 99 

resides at Hanover Four.Corners, with her daughter Harriet L., 
was a grandson of Capt. Robert and son of Samuel, who built 
on the Smith Yard. John Pierce Eells was born Aug. 12, 
1822; married Anna Mitchell, Jan. 5, 1848. She was born 
Oct. 10, 1823. Their children were: 1. Annie Elizabeth, 
born Nov. 3, 1849 ; married Fred. Stetson, April 3, 1872, and 
have children : Ethel Pierce, born April 26, 1876 ; Una Wil- 
liams, born Jan. 3, 1878 ; Helen Wood, born Sept. 6, 1879. 

2. Ahirtha Fobes, born Nov. 10, 1854 ; died June 6, 1856. 

3. Harriet Louise, born July 5, 1859. John Pierce Eells died 
Nov. ^b, 1883. 

No very large vessels were built by this firm. The merchants 
used smaller vessels in their trade, large numbers of such craft 
being employed in the early part of the eighteenth century, 
in commerce with the West Indies, taking out beef, pork, fish, 
and oil, and bringing back rice, pitch, spices, and logwood, 
rum and sugar. Later, when the whaling business increased, 
there was a demand for larger vessels, and their successors 
built next to the largest vessels built in Hanover. Messrs. 
Barstow and Eells were both born in Feln-uary, 1732. They 
were cousins, and always companions in life. • Mr. Eells died 
in 1800. Thomas Barstow married Sarah Studley, and had 
children: Sarah, born Nov. 27, 1754; Thomas, born Dec. 20, 
1756; Rebecca, born March 8, 1759; Nath., born Oct. 10, 
1761 ; John Burden, born Jan. 15, 1764, who died Aug. 6, 
1854, ao:ed ninetv years ; Molly, born Aug. 1, 1768; Elijah, 
born Feb. 13, 1771. 



John B. Barstow was Lieutenant Colonel, Second Regiment? 
1815. The Parade Grounds were located on the Indian Fields, 
in Pembroke, east side of the ponds. John Burdin Barstow, 
third son of Thomas Barstow and Sarah Studley, born Jan. 15, 
1764; married Betsey Eells, second daughter of Robert Len- 
thal Eells and Ruth Copeland. Children: 1. Sarah, born 
May 21, 1788; married Joseph S. Bates. 2. Betsey Eells, 
born Sept. 22, 1789. 3. John, l)orn Feb. 17, 1791. 4. Jane, 
born July 24, 1792 ; married David Ilersey. 5. Hannah, born 
Jan. 27, 1794. 6. Edward, born Aug. 27, 1795. 7. Robert, 
mariner, born Feb. 1, 1797 ; died in England, Oct. 13, 1818. 
8. Benjamin, shipmaster, born Dec. 15, 1799. 9. Salome, 
born July 24, 1801; married Haviland Torrey, son of Wm. 



100 BARSTOW'S SHIP YARD AT THE " TWO OAKS." 

Torrey, of Pl3'mouth.* Dea. Elijah married Lucy Eells, sis- 
ter of Col. John B. Barstow's wife, and died in 1842. They 
had children; Nathaniel, born Aug. 1, 1799; Lucy, born 
Dec. 22, 1801 ; Elijah, born Oct. 2, 1805, now living ;t Edwin, 
born July 30, 1811 ; Abby, born Dec. 6, 1812 ; Andrew, born 
Dec. 30, 1813. Andrew left Caldera, So. America, Oct. 2, 
1856, master of the Salem ship "Lantao," and was never heard 
from after. 

Thomas Barstow's four sons succeeded him in the business. 
Later, Nathaniel withdrew, and went to Camden, Me., where 
he died. Thomas, Jr., John B,, and Elijah then built until 
1818, when Thomas retired, and Col. John B. and Dea. Elijah 
continued in business until 1832, when Elijah, Jr., son of Dea. 
Elijah, bought out his uncle, and went in business with his 
father, where he continued until 1841. The Barstows built one 
whaler, for Nantucket, that was fifty-eight years old at last 
accounts. The first vessel I have any account of, ])uilt by the 
successors to the old firm, was in 1799, ship " EODOLPH 
FREDERICK," 271 tons, of Boston, built in Hanover, by John 
B. and Elijah Barstow. Thomas, John B.,and Elijah Barstow, 
in company, built, in 1800-1, a i^/iip, name unknown ; also, in 
1800, Sch. " LUCRETIA," 114 tons, of Boston ; John B. Bar- 
stow, master carpenter. 1801. Sch. "FREDERIC," 107 tons, 
of Boston, for Nathl. Goddard ; John B. Barstow, master car- 
penter. 1802. A schooner, name unknown. J 1803. Ship 
"POCAHONTAS," 279 tons, of Boston, for Capt. John Hoi- 



* For genealogy of the Barstow family, see Barry's History of Hanover. 

t See Briggs' shipyard and genealogy 

t Articles of an agreement made and concluded on by and between Thomas Barstow 
and Elijah Barstow, of Scituate, and John B. Barstow, of Hanover, all in the County 
of Plymouth, shipwrights, of the one part, and Jonathan Philips and Mathew Allen, 
both of Harwich, in the County of Barnstable, mariners, as the other part, witnesseth 
that the said Thomas, John, and Elijah, doth agree to build a scJiootter of the lollowing 
dimentions, viz. : t<jrty-tive feet keel, sixteen teet eight inches beam, and five feet eight 
inches in the hold. Federal measurement. The said Thomas, John, and Elijah further 
agree to build said schooner of good warrantable timber and plank, and to iron her well 
in every part, and to Hnisb the hull complete, including spars, joiners' work, painting 
the outside, glazing the cabin windows, and to build the chinmey, grave her bottom, pay 
her waste and decks, and find one pump, and to launch said schooner by the 7th day of 
April next, in consideration of which the said Jonathan and Mathew do aggree to pay 
twenty-six dollars per ton, in manner following, viz. : Six hundred and fifty dollars 
when the schooner is launched, and the remainder by the last day of November follow- 
ing, and to give good security and interest from the day said vessel is launched. In wit- 
ness whereof we have hereto set our hands and seals this 22d day of November, 1802. 

JONATHAN PHILIPS, 
MATHEW ALLEN. 
Witness : — Joseph Eells, 

Edmi'nd Sylvestee. 



SHIPS BUILT BY THOS., JOHN B., AND ELIJAH BARSTOW. 101 

land, Jr., and Nathl. Goddard, John B. Barstow, master car- 
penter; and, in 1803, the Sch. "ADAMS," 77 tons, for Dux- 
bury parties. The brig " CENT " was built by the Barstows in 
early times ; also the ship " HENXITTA," for Nathl. Goddard. 
In 1804 they l)uilt a uliijj for Isaac Shearmon. In 1805, they 
l3uilt three ships ; first, ship " PROTECTION," 270 tons, of 
New Bedford. 

The second was the ship " FRANCIS," a whaler, of 291 tons. 
This vessel was taken by Sir George Cockburn during the War 
of 1812, l)ut was subsequently released. Sir George Cockburn 
was detailed by the British Government for cruising on the 
American coast, and assigned the "Albion," an eighty-four gun 
ship. He took the " Francis," off Montauk, south of Massachu- 
setts. Later, he was at the burning of Washington, D. C. 
After he returned to England, he was ordered to the war ship 
" Northumberland," to take Napoleon to St. Helena. A young 
man named Ratcliff was with Sir George during all of the above 
time, and in 1820 was cast away on Nantucket, where he after- 
ward lived and died. He was very fond of telling how Napo- 
leon used to pinch his ears, and talk to him. The " Francis " 
was whaling in the Pacitic, under Capt. Barzillai Coffin, of Nan- 
tucket, in 1816. She was sold in 1825, and foundered at sea 
in 1826. The third vessel built in 1805 was the ship "HEN- 
RIETTA," 279 tons, of Boston, John B. Barstow, master car- 
penter. In 1806, they built the ship "HENERY," owned at 
one time in New Bedford ; in 1807, a skq), sold to Capt. Bar- 
nea, Nantucket; in 1808, a s/n2), sold to Capt. Elijah Nicker- 
son; in 1809, ship "GOVERNOR GORE," 302 tons, of Bos- 
ton, for Thomas Hazard. In 1810, a shij), sold to Capt. Gibbs ; 
and, in 1810, a ship, sold to Ebenezer Nickersou. In 1811, 
the ship "ELIZA ANN," 312 tons, of Boston. This vessel 
was cast away on Sumatra, Aug. 19, 1819, and was a total loss. 
The ship " ANN " was launched April, 1815, after laying on the 
stocks during the War of 1812. She was of 340 tons, built for 
Capt. Hiller, New York. In 1816, they built a shq), probably 
the "FRANCIS," for a Mr. Marcy ; and the same year, 1816, 
the " HYCSO," 290 tons, for Zenas Cofiin, of Nantucket. She 
was lost on Huakeine, Society Islands, 1826. In 1817, they 
built the Sch. " ^MARINER," for Capt. Smith, of Nantucket. 
This vessel lasted many years, and was finally sold. Also, in 
1817, a scJiooner, for Mr. Eldridge, of the Cape. They launched 
two vessels in one month in 1817: Sch. " LEADER," April, 



102 BARSTOW'S YARD. 

1817, a Baltimore packet, 9G tons, for Jonathan Smith, Nan- 
tucket ; and the ship "INDEPENDENCE," April, 1817, a 
whaler, of 311 tons, for George Swain, Nantucket. 

The ship " Independence " was whaling in 1817, and in 1819, 
Capt. Swain, after fillmg this ship in the Pacific Ocean with 
1388 barrels of sperm oil, 568 of whale oil, said that no ship 
could till again with sperm oil. After whaling m the Pacitic 
many years, she was lost, under Capt. Isaac Braytt)n, on Star- 
buck's Island, South Pacitic Ocean, with 1800 barrels of sperm 
oil, in 1837. This was the last vessel built by this firm, 
Thomas, Jr., retiring this year. 

In 1838, the Sch. "OUTESIE," 99 tons, of Scituate, was 
built in Hanover, just above Barstow's Yard, on the old Stock- 
bridge place, by Abner Stetson, Michael Ford, Jr., and Israel 
H. Sherman, of Scituate, and owned by them, James Jenkins, 
George jNI. Allen, of Scituate, JNIartin Curtis, and Horace Stet- 
son, of Hanover, and others. AVhen Joshua Stetson was work- 
ing in the Navy Yard, the Commodore, who had a donkey that 
he was very fond of and often had in the yard, came along, and 
asked "Josh " what he thought of his donkey. "Well," said 
Josh, "if he had epaulettes on his shoulders, I think he Avould 
resemble our Commodore very much." Israel H. Sherman was 
born in the house on the "Old Oaken Bucket" place, on Pond 
street, in Scituate, and still lives about a mile below, on the 
same street. For thirty successive years he worked in the ship- 
yards. The "Outesie" was the last vessel built at this yard» 
and, as has been seen, she was built l)y ship-carpenters found 
earlier and later in other yards on North River. 



-^^-'^ (^^jf?"^^ 



and Col. John 
B. Barstow con- 
tinued the busi- 
ness, but not in 
the old yard. 
C^ The demand was 

now for larger vessels for the whaling business of Nantucket 
and New Bedford, and for large merchant ships. Numbers of 
merchant vessels were built for the sons of John B. Barstow, 
in New York City. As the 3'ard at the Tvo Oalt> was too far 
up to build such large vessels, the new tirm concluded to go a 
few rods farther down stream, and therefore secured the yard 
where Edward and Samuel Eells had been building a few ves- 



SHIFS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BAESTOW. 103 

sels, and occupied previously by Albert and Josiah Smith. 
Samuel Eells died in Hanover, March 17, 1863, aged eighty- 
two years. 

The first occupant of this yard, of whoniTre have any knowl- 
edge, was Col. Jolni Bailey, a distinguished officer in the Kev- 
ohitionary A¥ar. He was Lieutenant Colonel of Col. Thomas' 
Regiment. Ho was with Col. Thomas at Roxbury, and had 
charge of the regiment when Col. Thomas was commissioned as 
general officer.* He probably built here previous to the Rev- 
ohition. Jo.<<€j)Ji Houf^e was his master workman. Prior to this 
time, John B. Barstow had been the master carpenter of the 
firm. When the two brothers started in their new yard, it was 
on an equal footing, and both attended strictly to business. An 
amusing incident occurred at this yard about this time. It is 
related that one day an old shi]i-builder went to the Four Cor- 
ners for a jug of rum for the yard, (it was the custom in those 
days to serve grog to " all hands " at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.,) and 
returning to the yard with the handle and part of the nose 
knocked otf, said, " AVell, bo3's, I met with a shipwreck on the 
way down." " Yes," said the one who had just taken the first 
serving, "and shipped a lot of w^ater, too." 

Four vessels lay on the stocks during theAVar of 1812, above 
Barstow's Yard. The first year the new firm occui)ied this yard, 
they l)uilt four vessels, which was the best years work recorded 
on any yard in Hanover, Smith's exce})ted. The vessels were 
launched in Ai)ril, May, July, and November, 1818. The first 
was the ship " STATES," 290 tons, Capt. David Swain, 2nd, 
owned l)y Zenas Coffin, of Nantucket. In 1820, she was 
whaling in the Pacific, and sold to New York after making two 
voyages whaling from Nantucket. 

The second was the ship "PERU," of Nantucket, 257 tons, 
launched in May, 1818. In 1820, she was whaling in the Pa- 
cific, under the command of Capt. David Harris. About 1833, 
she was changed into a bark, and from then until 1864 was 
Avhaling on the South coast, and in the Pacific, when she was 
sold to Williams & Haven, of New London, Conn. Starl)uck, 
in his "History of American AMiale Fisheries," claims that the 
"Peru " was the first ship brought over the bar at Nantucket by 
the "Camels." "Bells were rung," he says, "and guns fired, 



* See Brick Kiln Yard. 



104 SHIPS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BARSTOW. 

and a great concourse of citizens greeted lier arrival." The 
"Camels " were practically a floating dock, with which vessels 
were taken over the l)ar at Nantucket. The " Peru " was trans- 
ferred about 183i»-42. On Dec. 2, 18()6, while the "Peru" 
was at Honolulu, H. 1., the third mate, Charles N. Marsh, died. 
March 2, 1872, while whaling in the Atlantic, a boat's crew 
were lost )\y capsizing. In 1874, she was sold to John McCul- 
lough, of New Bedford, and in 1877 was still whalins: in the 
Atlantic, under Capt. Jasper M. Ears. In 1888, she was broken 
up at New Bedford, being then in her sixly-sixtJi year. 

The third vessel was the Sch. " BANKER," launched July, 
1818, 75 tons, David Elliott, Provincetown, owner; and the 
fourth, which was launched in Novemlier, 1818, was the ship 
"CLAY," 299 tons, of Boston, John B. and Elijah Barstow, 
master carpenters. She was l)uilt for a merchantman, com- 
manded by Benj. Hichens, and owned by Hon. William Gray, 
of Boston, ancestor of William Gray Brooks, Esq., formerly of 
Hanover. 

William Gray, who had quite a number of ships built on 
North River, was probably the largest ship-owner ever in this 
country. He was born in 1750, died in 1825. At one time 
he is said to have owned sixty square-rigged vessels. He 
was first President of the State Bank, and Lieutenant Governor 
when Elbridge Gerry was Governor.* From 1819 to 1833, 
the Barstows built one or two vessels each year. The ship 
" AVASHINGTON," launched 1819, whaler, 309 tons, was 
owned by Reulien Swain and Zenas Coffin, Nantucket. Capt. 
Thomas Barstow Donnell, a cousin of Elijah Barstow, went in 
her the first voyage. He left her for the grocery business in 
New York, and was prostrated with small pox, which obliged 
him to give up, and he settled in Hanover, where his widow still 
resides. He died JNIarch 8, 1865, aged sixty-one years. His 
descendants are : 1. Ruth, married, and living in the West. 
2. Nancy, deceased. 3. Jennie, now widow of Henry Pratt. 
4. Reuben. The ship " Washii>gton," in 1819, Mas whaling in 
the Pacific, under Capt. Reuben Swain, 2nd; and in 1825, lost 
her first mate, David Star])uck. She was condenmed at Oahu, 
Hawaiian Island, in 1849, being then thirty years old. 

In June, 1820, they launched the ship "SPERMO," whaler, 

* Drake's Landmarks of Boston, p. 20. 



SHIPS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BAllSTOW. 105 

296 tons, Capt. James Bunker ; Aaron ]\Iitcliell, Nantucket, 
owner. She was whaling in the Pacific in 1)520. Sold in 1823 
])y A:uon jMitchell, and, while in the merchant service, she 
foundered at sea. and all hands lost, coining from Liverpool to 
New York, in l'S2.i. The next vessel built at this vard was the 
ship "CONSTITUTION;' 325 tons, launched in March, 1821. 
The same year she Avas in the Pacitic, whaling. She was owned 
by Zenas CofEn, Nantucket ; Capt. David Swain, 2nd, master. 
1820, Capt. Isaac Chase, who was then master of her, it is re- 
ported would not go around Caj)e Horn, but went to the 
"Banks," and returned, accusing his crew of mutiny. From 
1830 to 1856, she was owned by C. G. and H. Coffin, of Nan- 
tucket, and used whaling in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian 
Oceans. In 1847, Mr. Prince, her third mate, died at sea. She 
was whaling until 1<S56, when she was condemned at Nantucket, 
then thirty-tive years old. 

In September of the same year, 1821, they built the ship 
"OENO,"Capt. G. B.Worth, owned by Aaron Mitchell, of 
Nantuket, 328 tons, used in the Pacific, wdialing. In April, 
1825, the ship "Oeno," then under Capt. Samuel Riddell, and 
on her second voyage, struck a reef near Turtle Island, one of 
the Fejee Group, and speedily showed signs of breaking up. 
The crew, twenty-one in number, took to the boats, and landed 
upon the island, lured thither l)y the friendly motions of the 
natives ; but when ashore a])out two weeks, a tribe from a 
larger island visited the one upon which they were, and, finding 
them unarmed, massacred all but one, William S. Cary, a Nan- 
tucket boy, who escaped after several years' imprisonment 
amoUji,' them, during which time he was taken care of by a 
chief's wife. He came home., and lived many years. In 1822, 
the firm built two vessels. The first was launched in July, the 
ship "LYDIA," 329 tons, Capt. Allen, owned by Z. Coffin, of 
Nantucket, and in 1825 she came back from her first vo}age 
of three years in the Pacific, whaling, with 2318 barrels of 
sperm oil. She returned to the Pacific, and, when under Capt. 
Edw. C. Joy, was l)urned at sea, off Paita, Peru, Jan. 31, 
1833 ; supposed to have been fired bv one of her crew. The 
second, the brig "TEENT," launched 'in September, 1822, 249 
tons, was commanded and owned, first l)y John Barstow, then 
Edw. Barstow, Nathaniel Barstow, and Mr. Foster, who died 
in New Orleans, of yellow fever. She was run into and sunk 
in the Mississippi River ; afterward raised, and commanded by 



106 SHIPS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BARSTOW. 

Ciipt. Freeman Foster. One of her crew, Henry J. Hitchconk^ 
died Nov. 10, 182G, at New Orleans, of yellow fever, after an 
illness of only five days, in the twenty-third year of his age. 
He was first mate of the brig "Trent," when commanded l)y 
Capt. Fdw. Barstow. It is said that he was very much afraid 
of the fever, and was taken down with it just as the vessel wa* 
ready to sail. Capt. Barstow delayed sailing for a few days, 
hoping he might recover. He was son of Dr. Gad Hitchcock, 
of Hanson. 

The ship " GOREE,'' launched September, 1823, 336 tons, 
was built for John Barstow, New York, and finally sold to 
Stockholm, Sweden. In July, 1S24, they launched the ship 
"SELMA," 266 tons. She was a cotton%hip, built for the 
Mobile trade, and sold to Thomas Longtield, New York. She 
was bought from New York, 1833, by A. H. Seabury & Bro., 
of New Bedford, and sent to the Pacific, whaling, luider Capt. 
Jonathan Nye. Here she was until Sept. 9, 1<S41, at which date 
she was burned at sea ; then under the command of Ca})t. 
Luce, and owned bv G. O. Crocker & Co., of New Bedford. 
They launched the Sch. "MENTOR" in May, 1825, a Balti- 
more packet, 98 tons, eJonathan Smith, Nantucket, owner. Cap- 
sized in a squall off the Bahamas in 1831, and two men lost; 
the others saved by a Kennel )ec vessel. This was the last 
schooner he owned. There was built at this yard, in 1825, ship 
"JOHN & ELIZABETH," 295 tons, of New York ; Jr)hn B. 
and Elijah Barstow, master carpenters. This vessel was 
launched in July, and sold to Capt. John Barstow, at New 
York. She was named after Col. John B. Barstow, and his 
wife Elizabeth. The ship "John & Elizabeth," which had been 
sold for a whaler, arrived in New London, from the South At- 
lantic, whaling, in 1838, with 200 barrels of sperm oil and 
2300 of whale oil. From 1840 to 1858, she was very success- 
ful, whaling, in the Indian Ocean and off the Northwest coast. 
In 1858, she belonged to Williams & Haven, of New London, 
Conn., and was condemned and broken up in her thirty-fourth 
year, in the port of Honolulu, H. I., in September, 1858, at 
which time she sent home 38 barrels of sperm oil, 1770 of whale, 
and 12,000 pounds of whalebone. 

In 1827, the ship "HANOVER," 329 tons, of New York, 
was built at this yard, John B. and Elijah Barstow, master car- 
penters She was owned by John and Edw. Barstow, of New 
York, and commanded by Capt. Benjamin and Capt. Nathaniel 



SHIFS BUILT BY JOHN B. AND ELIJAH BARSTOW. 107 

Barstow respectively. Also, they Iniilt, in 1827, ship "AMER- 
ICAN," 283 tons, John B. and Elijah Barstow, master carpen- 
ters, for whaling, and launched in August. She was owned by 
Samuel Hunting, of Sag Harbor. The ship "American," in 
1827, was off Patagonia, whaling, under Capt. Geo. Post; 
afterward she was in the South Seas ; 1(S29, under Capt. Wm. 
A. Jones, oft' Brazil ; 1840-43, under command of Capt. Cooper, 
oft' New Zealand and Crozette Island. About 1843, she was 
changed into a bark, and in June, 1846, while whaling, under 
the command of Capt. Wm. Pierson, off" the Northwest coast, 
the captain and three men were lost, by a whale running over 
their boat. The " American " Avas condemned at St. Thomas in 
August, 1848. Whetlier the "Neptune " was built at this yard 
or not, it has been impossible to prove, l)ut it is more than 
likely she was. The bark " NEPTUNE," 338 tons, two decks, 
sixteen feet draft, copper and iron, oak and cedar, one hundred 
and six feet long, twenty-seven feet broad, was built in Han- 
over, 1828 ; owned in 18G5 by Garrels & INIeyer, Halifax, Capt. 
Banker. In 1828, the Barstows built a vessel for ZenasCotEn, 
of Nantucket, which was to be named the '^ Risiny Sun.'' 
She was launched in June, and when she arrived in Nantucket, 
Zenas Cotiin was Iving dead. His son Henry, who later owned 
the vessel, named it after his father: the ship "ZENAS COF- 
FIN," 338 tons, 17 feet draft, double-decked, oak, cop- 
per and iron fastened. She was whaling in the Pacific in 1828, 
and in her first voyage, of three years, she got 2732 barrels of 
sperm oil, then under Capt. Joy. In 1857, her owners, C. G. 
& H. Coffin, of Nantucket, sold her to New York, at which time 
she sent home fifteen thousand dollars' worth of l)one and oil. 
In 1861 she was again owned by H. Coffin, and in 1863 by 
Starbuck & Co., Nantucket. There are two accounts of her 
ending, — one, that she was used up wdialing oft' So. America ; 
the other, which I believe to be correct, that she was sunk off 
Charleston, to obstruct the blockade runners ; was afterwards 
raised, and, in 1874, owned by Garrels & Mayer, at Halifax, 
N. S., then sixty-six years old. There was launched at this 
yard, in May, 1829, the Sch. "SARAH & BETSEY," 85 tons, 
of Hanover, John B. Barstow, owner ; John B. & Elijah Bar- 
stow, master carpenters. This is one of the few, if not the 
only vessel, that hailed from Hanover as its home port, With 
Col. Barstow for its owner, and named after two of Hanover's 
young ladies, it ought certainly to have had a successful career, 
and it may have had. What finally became of it no one seems 



108 SHIPS BUILT BY JOHN B, AND ELIJAH BARSTOW. 

to know. The "Sarah & Betsey "was named after Col. Bar- 
stow's two oldest daughters, — Sarah, the mother of John B. 
Bates, of Hanover Four Corners, and Betsey, who died un- 
married. 

Tn June of the same year, 1829, they hiunched the ship 
"C0LU:MBIA," a whaler, 285 tons, Luther D. Cook, Sag 
Harbor, owner. She was used wdialing off the coast of Brazil 
and New Zealand and in the South seas, 1829 to 1845, when 
she was changed into a brig. The last voyage she made as a 
ship she got 250 bbls. of sperm oil, 2250 bbls. of whale oil and 
28000 lbs. of bone. She was in the Pacific and South Atlantic 
until 1862, when, in her 34th year, she was sold by her owner, 
John Budd of Sag Harbor, N. Y. Barstows launched the ship 
"PHENIX," in May, 1830, a whaler of 314 tons, built for 
Luther D. Cook of Sag Harbor. Capt. Elijah Barstow, then 
a young man, was struck accidentally by the end of a hawser, 
when aboard of her, while she was lying in Boston, which broke 
his arm. The "Phenix" was whaling in the Atlantic from 1831 
until 1840, when Capt. Topping left the ship and came home 
sick. Capt. Briggs then took her whaling off New Zealand and 
in the Indian Ocean, until 1849, when she was sold to Boston. 
They launched in May, 1831, ship "MARYS," 329 tons, of 
New Bedford. She was built for a merchantman, and owned 
by Capt. Thomas Barstow, C-harles Russell and others. It was 
probably she who was lost on the Island of Juan Fernandez in 
1833. There was launched in Oct., 1831, the ship "WARSAW," 
331 tons, John B., and Elijah Barstow, jNI. C. She was built 
for a cotton ship, and owned ])V C. & J. Barstow of New 
York. The last ship built while Col. John B. Barstow w^as in 
the firm was in the year 1832, the ship " CHARLES & HENRY," 
337 tons. She was Avhaling in the Pacific from ] 832 until June, 
1845, when she was lost on Cordo. After the above vessel 
was finished, Dea. Elijah Barstow bought out his brother's 
interest and took in his son Elijah, Jr., who put in what he 
was able toward buying out his uncle, and together, father and 
son built until 1841. Col. John B. Barstow died in Hanover, 
Aug. 6, 1854, aged 90 years. 

is now living at 

^^^ ^^^'^-^^^^^^^ -■ *^'^ '-^ , f ^^\ '\ 
'C^/'i.^ apparent!}' periect 

health , working on 

his fann, (the old Barstow homestead in Norwell), ten and 






^^.^ ^^ ^^t^y^^'/^^^y^ 



CAPT. ELIJAH BARSTOW. 109 

twelve hours a day, and he walks to church and back every 
Sunday with a step much lighter and faster than many of the 
young men of to-day. "He was born in Scituate, Oct. 2. 1805, 
baptized by Rev. Joseph Barker, Sept. 20, 1806. He was the 
son of Dea. Elijah and Lucy (Eells) Barstow. Mr. Barstow 
worked on his fathers farm until nearly seventeen years of age, 
attending, in the winter season, the private school at the 
Corners that was taught by Rev. Calvin Walcot, Mr. Parker, 
Marm Mann, (a somewhat noted female teacher), and Miss 
Mary Thomas. Here he received a thorough business educa- 
tion. The schoolroom and hall was over what is now Flavell's 
store. This was before the Academy Avas removed from the 
centre of the town. In 1822 he began to work in his father's 
ship yard and learned the art of shipbuilding. The first vessel 
he worked on was the 'Trent.' Mr. Barstow, like most boys 
who are brought up among ships, decided to make one of the 
crew of the ship 'Goree,' (built here in 1823,) on her first 
voyage. She was commanded by John Barstow, of New York, 
and sailed to Xew Orleans for a cargo of cotton. Failing to 
get a freight at Xew Orleans, she sailed around to Savannah, 
where she loaded with cotton, which she safely landed at 
Providence, R. I. She was finally sold to parties in Stock- 
holm, Sweden. On the ship's arrival at Providence, Mr. 
Barstow returned to his father's ship yard, where he finished 
his trade. He worked with his father about ten years, when 
he married Caroline O., daughter of Henry Briggs, of Scituate, 
and went housekeeping in the old Stockbridge Mansion, that 
stood upon the spot now occupied by E. Q. Sylvester's resi- 
dence, near the North River Bridge. Here he lived two years 
or more, when he removed to East Boston, and ])uilt three 
vessels on his own account. Mr. Barstow, in consequence of 
losses and the burning of his workhouse, retired from the ship 
business m 1869, and has followed the pleasant occupation of a 
farmer for the past nineteen years, robust in health and as 
active as most men at sixty. Mr. Barstow comes of a long^ 
line of ship-builders and is of the sixth generation that have 
built in the same, yards from North River Bridge to Sunset Hill. 
He remembers perfectly well the war of 1812, when so many of 
our ship-builders were ruined b}- the blockade estal)lished along 
our coast by the British, preventing the newly l)uilt vessels 
from leaving tlie River. From the ])ridge to Foster's yard 
there were four large ships on the stocks, and a sentry or guard 
was placed at every yard to give notice of any attempt on the 



110 DEACON ELIJAH BARSTOW & SON. 

part of the enemy to enter the river, as had been the case at 
Scituate Harbor, Avhere the English man-of-war, ' Bulwark,' 
had destroyed the fleet of small vessels in that port. Mr. 
Barstow says, ' Every ship-builder that began business in 
Medford, East and South Boston, went either from Scituate, 
Hanover, or Pembroke, and it is well know^n that Hanover 
furnished the workmen that carried the business to Rochester, 
Mattapoisett and Buzzard Bay.' He had two children, Albert, 
wdio died in l(!)6o, and Henry, who married and has two chil- 
dren.* From the time Dea. Elijah and his son commenced 
building in company, Elijah, Jr., became the master carpenter 
of the firm." 

The first vessel they built was in 1833, ship "SEAMEW," 
199 tons, for B. C. Clark, of Boston. Mr. Clark delivered 
lectures about this time, in "Academy Hall,"' Hanover, on "The 
Sea and Ship-lniilding." Also, the same year, 1833, bark 
"TIBERIAS," 298 tons, for Sears & Davis, Boston. 1834. 
Bark " HARRIOT," 202 tons, for John L. Hooper, Marble- 
head. 1835. Sch. "SARAH WALES," 99 tons, for Capt. 
Geo. Manson, and others. Elijah Barstow^ Jr., Samuel Tol- 
man, Michael Ford, and Elisha Bass, also had an interest in 
this vessel. They built, of oak and pine, the same year, 1835, 
Sch. "WILLIAM WILSOX," 121 tons, Elijah Barstow, Jr., 
master carpenter. Built for Capt. Ezra H. Baker, of Dennis, 
who then did not have enough to pay for one-eighth of her, but 
who died leaving over $1,000,000. In 1859, she was owned by 
A. Gibbs, and sailing under Capt. Loud. In the spring of 
1889, she was seen by Thomas B. Waterman at Fairhaven, 
then lying on her beam ends, having 1)een used the past 
twenty years for whaling. The Barstows also built, in 1836, 
the bark "DANIEL WEBSTER," 264 tons, Charles Cole, of 
Boston, Thomas L. Manson, of Scituate, and others, owners at 
Boston; Elijah Barstow, Jr., master carpenter. During the 
next three years they built two vessels a year. In 1837, Sch. 
"HOME," 13()tons, for Howes, brother of Ezra H. Baker, of 
Dennis, afterward of Boston. 1837. Sch. "PAULINE," 148 
tons, for Charles Cole, of Boston, Geo. Manson, of Scituate, 
and others; and in 1838, brig "WILLIAM M. ROGERS" 
(named after the Pioston minister), 162 tons, for George Tay- 
lor, of Chatham ; Hardy & Baker, agents. Capt. C. B. Graves 



* See Briggs' Yard. 



DEACON ELIJAH BAKSTOW & SOX. Ill 

went in her one voyage to Philadelphia in 184(). In 1838, 
they built the Sch. "ALLEN," 127 tons, for George Allen, Scit- 
uate, and Charles Cole and others, Boston. She was afterward 
rigged as a hermaphrodite ])rig. She was commanded by Capt. 
John Manson, of Scituate Harl)or. He went in her to the West 
Indies, South America, Rio-de- Janeiro, and one voyage from 
San Domingo to Boston, with coifee. When, at the end of 
this voyage, he made fast to the wharf in Boston, he met with 
the worst shipwreck he ever had in his life. This was in 1839. 
The " Allen " was lying at Fort Hill Wharf, in a heavy gale of 
wind, when she broke adrift, and collided with another vessel 
lying at Liverpool Wharf. A third vessel came outside of 
this, and beat herself to pieces, and sank. The "Allen " rode 
the gale very well, and so crowded the inner vessel that she 
could not sink. It was a terrible storm, and a great many lives 
and vessels were lost along the coast. The "Allen" needed a 
great deal of repairing, and was afterward sold. Prior to 1830 
few vessels went to Provincetown or the Cape, but from about 
that date Cape Cod was a larae market for vessels built on 
North River. In 1839, they" built the brig "AVILDES P. 
WALKER," 188 tons, of ProVidence, Frost & Gurney, for the 
West India trade, Elijah Barstow, Jr., master carpenter ; and 
the same year, 1839, the brig "OCEAN," 165 tons, of Boston, 
for T. Eldridge, Chatham ; Elijah Barstow^ Jr., master carpen- 
ter. She was used as a Boston and Baltimore packet until 
1851, when she w^as added to the Sandwich whaling fleet. In 
1856, her rig was chano:ed to a bark. In 1864, she was sold to 
Sag Harbor, and lost in 1S67. In 1S40, the bark " IMOGENE," 
179 tons, was built here, Elijah Barstow, master carpenter. 
This vessel was owned, in 1846, by Wm. G. and Abiel S. 
Lewis, of Boston, and used whaling in the Atlantic. They 
built in 1841, brig " SALINAS," 162 tons, for Nathl. Hamblin, 
Charles Cole, and others ; owned in 1876 (then thirty-live 
years old), by Cartwright & Harrison, at the Barbadoes. 

In 1841, Capt. Elijah, Jr., gave up business in Hanover, 
temporarily, and went to East Boston, where he built, during the 
same year, tiie l)ark " Sparton," 196 tons, for Province- 
town, and the ship " Columbia," 329 tons, for Charles and 
Henry Coffin, Nantucket, which w^as condemned atUpola, 1861, 
and in 1842 a vessel, which he named after his sons, the bark 
"Albert Henri/ " 200 tons, commanded by his brother, Capt. 
Andrew Barstow. June 22, 1842, his father died, and he re- 



112 "ROANOKE." 

turned to the old family homestead at Norwell, resuming busi- 
ness at his father's yard at Hanover in 1844. 

Durino- Capt. Barstow's absence in East Boston, there was 
built at t^iis yard, in 1842, the Sch. "KOAXOKE," 99 tons, for 
Elijah Jenkins, Jr., and Seth Webb, of Soituate Harl)or. She 
was built by a company, including Btirker Turner and Joseph 
S. Bates. In 1849, this vessel was bought by Cunningham & 
Cobb, of Boston, for a company that had formed for the pur- 
pose of going to California, mining. The membevs of this 
company came from many widely separated New England 
towns ; and some were surprised, in looking over tlie shipping 
list, to find the names of relatives and friends who had, like 
themselves, caught the California gold fever, and decided to 
become pioneers. This was the case with William B. Josselyn, 
of Peml)roke, now sixty-five years of age. One Saturday, 
while at home on his father's farm, he picked up a Boston Jour- 
nal, and found the advertisement of a company that were fitting 
out a vessel to go to California. The ^Monday following found 
him in Boston, looking over the several vessels that were fitting 
out. He had been to sea before, and saw that most of the ves- 
sels were old, and dangerous to sail in. He finally came to one 
on which was a man who told him if he had not signed to go 
in that vessel, he would go in one lying at the next wharf, 
pointing to a little topsail schooner. ]\Ir. Josselyn examined 
her, was pleased, and went immediately to the office of Cun- 
ningham & Colib, where he looked over the papers and found 
the names of his cousin and several friends. He raised the 
mone}^ and signed the articles, then went to Reed's, on Dock 
Square, and bought a handsome gun for $14. It was imitation 
stub twist, ornamented German silver mounting, and rosewood 
stock. Each of the com})any took a gun, and the vessel was 
loaded with provisions, pipes of liquor, mining machinery of 
every kind, etc. The vessel cost, all fitted out, $7, .300. They 
paid in $300 apiece, and then being $1,200 short, that amount 
was borrowed from the more wealthy members of the com})any 
at 6% interest, with the privilege of paying at will. They 
styled themselves the Boston ^Marine ^Mining Co., and bound 
themselves together for two years. Freeman M. Josselyn re- 
members accompanying them down the harbor as far as Fort 
Independence, on a pleasant summer morning, forty years ago. 
Among the many vessels which left Boston during the Califor- 
nia excitement, none created a greater interest than that of the 



THE BOSTON MARINE MINING CO. 113 

little clipper schooner "Roanoke." She was manned by many 
" greenhorns," and many who had been to sea before, but all had 
equal rights. It was a question as to which of all those who 
were experienced sailors should command the vessel. It was 
finally decided to })ut the question to vote, and William N. 
Shelley was elected captain. After this, every question was 
put to vote, and several times, when it was thought the captain 
did not do as they should have done, it was put to vote whether 
they should retain him as captain or put in another, but he re- 
ceived a majority every time, and kept his office throughout the 
trip. The schooner was well officered, as will be seen by the 
following list, to which is added an account of what became of 
each, so fjir as has been ascertained : JMaster, William N. 
Shelley, Boston, now a pilot in San Francisco Harbor. First 
Officer, C. Kirkoterp, Boston, now a wealthy retired coal mer- 
chant, living in San Francisco. Second Officer, Frederick Mor- 
ton, Plymouth, Mass ; lost at sea when master of a schooner 
down South. Third Officer, Henry W^illiams, of Boston ; died 
in California. Carpenter, Michael Robert Sylvester, Boston ; 
now living at Hanover Four Corners. Saihnaker, William 
Cole, Boston ; died in California from the effects of poison 
oak. Boatswain, Henry Haste, Boston ; a wealthy retired 
coal merchant, now living in San Francisco, and a former part- 
ner of C. Kirkoterp. Blacksmith, Russell Bourne, of Boston, 
now residing in Plymouth, Mass. Cook, Philip E. Stoker, 
who was taken sick and left during the passage at Villa Grande, 
about fifty miles south of Rio Janeiro. Steward, Smith D. 
Crockett, Boston ; now a doctor among the sailors on the city 
front, San Francisco. Clerk, George Bartlett, of Kingston ; 
now dead. The seamen were : John Hathaway Cushing, of 
Hanover, who died in California. George Marshall Josselyn, 
of Pembroke, now a wealthy San Franciscan, in the ship 
chandlery business. Phineas Pettingill, of Londonderry. Isaac 
Leonard, of South Boston, where he now lives. Charles J. 
Hillburn, of Boston ; died in California. W. H. V. Gallup, 
of Boston, died during the voyage. He was sitting in the 
cabin, with his head bowed on his hands, when suddenly he 
threw up his hands, fell over, and died almost instantly, Nov. 
5, at 5 P.M. He was buried at sea, in the South Pacific, Nov. 
26, at 8.30 a,m. This was a sad occurrence for the little com- 
pany of New Englanders. Philip W. Bell, of Boston, aged 
about sixty years, the oldest of the company. He died in Cal- 
ifornia, soon after landing, from exposure in tents, etc. Henr}' 



114 THE BOSTOX MAKIXE MIXIXG CO. 

H. Barslow, of Exeter; tinully went to Oregon, "William B. 
JosselvQ, of Pembroke ; now living in Pembroke. Warren 
Pettingill, Jr., of Londonderry. John E. Sever, of Plymouth ; 
he finally went to Oregon. Lawrence Panton, of ]Milton ; now 
in the foundry business at Petaluma, California. This com- 
pletes the list of twenty-three souls, "all told," on board this 
little schooner, with a draft of only seven feet. Is it any won- 
der that when, at one time, the "Roanoke '' bore down on a mer- 
chantman to get her "reckoning" or position, the merchantman 
set all sail, and endeavored to get away from this small craft, 
whose decks were swarming with what the merchantman thought 
were pirates ? Nearly every man had his life insured. They 
sailed about 10 a.m., July 19, 1849, and were accompanied down 
the harbor by many friends. A bountiful collation was served, 
and when the " Lower Light " was reached, at 4 p.m., those on 
board who were not going bade adieu to the friends and rela- 
tives, gave them a rousing cheer, and returned on the tug which 
had been towing the "Roanoke." 

As previously stated, every question was put to vote. They 
all had cabin fare, and all fared alike. Several of the green- 
horns were seasick for a few da^'s. July 29, they spoke the ship 
" Shannaca," New York to San Francisco. Nothing of im- 
poi-tance came up until they were near the Equator, when they 
decided to vote on the question whether or no they should see 
the line. It was voted that Gallup should see the line, though 
all the landsmen expected to ; accordingly a l>ucket of lather was 
made of slush and tar, and with an iron hoop Gallup was 
shaved while they Avere crossing the line, Aug. 20. Previously, 
or on July 31, Russell Bourne was injured l)y the breaking of 
a l)elaying })in, around which "the watch" had a turn of a 
ro})e ; he lieing at the end of the rope they fell on him. 
The first land they sighted was Pernaml)uco, but they did not 
" put in." Sept. (3, another meml)er of the Company, Hilborn, 
paid one hundred and fifty dollars and became a passenger, 
having tired of sailor life, Gallup having previously done 
the same. Some of the Company wanted to " put in " to Rio 
Janeiro, and, when the question was voted on, it was found to 
be the minds of the majority so to do. They then consulted 
their many consular and marine l)ooks and guides, and found 
the port charges were some sixty dollars. They took up a 
subscription, Init could only raise thirty dollars ; so decided 
it was useless to attempt to "put in" to Rio, for fear they could 



THE BOSTON MARINE MINING CO. 115 

not get out without selling the schooner. jNIoilon had been to 
the Isle of Grande, Latitude 20° So., and told the crew of the 
delicious yams to be got there, and it was voted to go there for 
a rest and to "provision up." At first they were unable to find the 
Island, but, while searching, they saw a little vessel which, from 
her appearance, they thought was making land. They followed 
her until they reached the coast of Brazil : and they inquired 
along the beach, of the natives, and, following their directions, 
on Sept. 17, at 10 a.m., found themselves in the bay of Ila 
Grande, at Ville Grande, a village with a nice harbor, situated 
about fifty miles south of Eio de Janeiro. Immediately they 
dropped anchor, the natives, seeing so many men on deck, all 
armed to the teeth, fled to their houses and bairicaded the 
doors. Capt. Shelley then ran up the Stars and Stripes, and 
soon there appeared along-side two men m a boat, which was 
loaded with oranges as a present to the " Capitaine," as they 
called Capt. Shelley. Not long after, an Englishman came out 
and told them that it was not a port of entry, and they would 
not be allowed to stay ; and if they did not get out pretty soon, 
the Governor would probal)ly send to Rio for a revenue cutter. 
Things were looking pretty bad, when a boat came out, and in 
it they recognized an American. He had been cast away while 
on a whaler, many years before, and married a native woman. 
He had spoken their language so long that his English was 
quite broken, but good enough for all purposes, so he was em- 
ployed at two dollars per day as interpreter. He told them 
that, if they invited the Governor off, and gave him a good 
dinner, everything would be all right. They accordingly in- 
vited the Governor oft' that night, and gave him the best the 
vessel aftbrded. So well did they treat him that at midnight 
they were obliged to carry him ashore. He had a glorious 
time, and, during his short visit, signed a permit allowing them 
to remain in port ten days ; and to properly account to his 
superior, at Rio Janeiro, the cause of a vessel being in port, he 
sent word that a vessel had put in there in distress. That they 
enjoyed every moment of the ten days it is needless to add. 
One of the watches had freedom one day, another the next, and 
they made excursions through the narrow guts or inlets into the 
beautiful bights or Ixiys, which were enclosed by high moun- 
tains, and surrounded on the shore by large orange groves and 
coft'ee plantations. At first, the Spaniards showed much fear, 
as the crews were always heavily armed ; but their fright was 
soon quieted by the interpreter, and they invited the strangers 



116 THE BOSTON MARINE MINING CO. 

ashore, and into their thatched houses, giving them coftee, with- 
out sugar or milk, so strong thov could not swallow it, and 
sending thoir little Mack slaves up the trees after oranges, and 
also having them set their seine for the anuisement of the vis- 
itors. On the trip down to A'illa Grande the crew used to 
practise with their guns ; and many bets were made with Wil- 
liam B. Josselyn as toAvhether they could shoot a bullet through 
the waving corners of a silk luuulkerchief which was hung up by 
its two other diagonal C(n-ners, a trick hard to do : also whether 
they could shoot a tallow candle through an inch board ; and 
one bet was made that a bullet could be shot through the blade 
of a broad-axe. An axe Avas procured from the carpenter, Avho 
valued it at three dollars. If the bullet went through, AVil- 
liain 1> Josselyn Mas to })ay for the axe ; if it did not, the 
marksman was to pay for the damage done. The first bullet 
indented the axe, and left its perfect form on the other side, 
but did not go through ; the others made no impression. Such 
were the amusements of the Coin[)any. A favorite target was 
a bottle hung from the end of a swinging boom, but one ball 
being alh)wed in the charge. The only man who succeeded in 
hitting this mark was JMorton, who made no pretense as a marks- 
man, but Avho one day quietly loaded his gun with buckshot 
(only one other person being aware of the fact), called the crew 
to witness, tired, and caused the bottle to disap})car as if by 
magic. George M. Josselyn had presented to him, by Josiah 
Dunham, a friend of Cyrus Alger, a new breech-loading ritie 
before leaving Alger's foundry, at South Boston, where he was 
employed. He became quite disgusted because he could not hit 
anything with it, and explained it by the rolling of the vessel ; 
so when he got ashore, and while at Villa Crrande, he bought a 
rooster, and set him on a Avail to shoot at. At his lirst shot, 
two bullets went otf, nearly wounding ]Mr. Josselyn. This 
ended his shooting with that gun. 

The ten days soon passed and they received word from Rio 
to leave innnediately and they reluctantly sailed away. Before 
sailing they bought* 10000 oranges at $1.00 per 1000. Their 
eyes were bigoer than their vessel : barrels, lockers, and 
buckets were tilled, and even berths had to be given up to make 
room for the oranges. A few days out they realized they had 
bought nothing but fully ripe fruit which was fast decaying. 
They would tind hundreds spoiled every morning and remem- 
ing their snow-balling days they obtained permission from the 



THE BOSTON MARINE MINING CO- 117 

captain and putting on their oil clotliing appeared on deck, 
which had been cleared for action, -vvitli arms full of decaying 
oranges. They chose sides and the battle raged ; they pelted 
each other until the allowance of rotten oranges was exhausted. 
They then washed down each other and cleared the vessel, 
which looked very much like the inside of a swill cart. These 
battles were repeated until the supply of oranges gave out. 
Whist was the favorite game of cards and it was usually played 
during the dog-watch from 6 to 8, p.m. One night when off 
the River Platte, South America, the Avatch were down in the 
cabin playing whist with the captain, excepting two men, one 
at the wheel and one on the lookout. The latter, seeing a 
squall approaching, called repeatedly to the captain to send up 
the watch, Ijut the game was probably very interesting and it 
was hard to break off. Finally the lookout could stand it no 
longer and he "hollered" down the gangway. " Say, Captain, 
if you don't send that watch up to take in the flying jib you can 
take it in yourself. I'll be damned if I am going to get 
wet." 

As they neared Cape Horn, the question was put to vote whether 
they should go round the Cape or through the Straits of Magel- 
lan, and the majority voted in favor of going through the Straits. 
They entered the Straits Oct. 12. In forty-eight hours they 
were one-half way through, but it was twenty-eight days before 
the passage was accomplished. While in the Straits they shot 
white, speckled and steam l)oat ducks ; they saw the natives 
building tires to attract them ashore that they might rob and 
plunder the vessel , and often saw bottles hanging to trees near 
the water's edge, inside of which would be the full account of 
the vessel preceeding them ; they would hang other l)ottles in 
their places containing an account of the "Roanoke." They 
would weigh anchor and start again and again only to return at 
night to anchor in the same place, usually in one of the harbors 
or inlets that were entirely sheltered from the storm. These 
harljors were so completely surrounded l)y high hills that it 
was necessary to send a boat around the point in the morning, 
where it was often found to be blowing a " living gale " in the 
" Straits " of which there was no indication in the harbor. After 
they left Port Famine they discovered a vessel ])eached, which 
proved to be the "J. A. Sutter," of Warren, K. I. Part of 
her cargo had been a frame house which her crew had erected 
on shore from which they were rescued by a steamer. With an 



118 THE BOSTON MARINE MINING CO. 

eye to business tlie Yankees of the " Roanoke " took what lumber 
they could conveniently carry from the house and wreck, and 
also fished out of the wreck about 100 lbs. of lead pipe. The 
lunilier they afterwards sold in San Francisco for $300 per 
thousand and realized from the sale of this and part of their 
cargo, about $1500. When they reached the last harbor in 
which they could anchor in the Straits, called the Harbor of 
Mercy, the storm w^as still heavy, with a thick fo<; and no siofn 
of abating. It was dangerous to sail out, for they could only 
lay three or four points free and might go ashore as the current 
was strong. They put it to vote and voted to sail out Nov. 9th, 
but there was very little talking on board the " Roanoke " until 
she was fairly into the Pacific, when they probably had an extra 
glass of punch all around and a grand time generally. Among 
the harbors in the Straits in which they anchored Avere 
Possession Bay, Playaparda Bay, Marion Bay, Morton's Bay, 
and Tamar Harbor. Little of consequence occurred before 
they made the port of San Francisco, except about Dec. 22 in 
the night, when Mr. Barstow caught a porpoise. When he 
struck the porpoise he was so excited that he sung out loudly 
for help, and the crew rushed out of the forecastle half dressed, 
not knowing what was the trouble. The porpoise was eight 
feet long, and it took six men to get him on deck. They arrived 
in the harbor of San Francisco after djirk, in a heavy rain on 
the last day of December, 1849, just in time to enalile them to 
become California Pioneers, the ever memorable "forty-niners," 
the highest of all honors in that now beautiful country. The 
next morning was dreary and the country looked rough with 
its tents and cotton cloth houses, in and out of the sand banks. 
Nearly all were homesick. The first thing in the morning 
Win. B. Josselyn called down the cabin to Leonard, "Wish you 
a happy New Year ;" he answered, " It will be a hard New Year 
for me, I guess." So thought many of them. They came out as 
a company, l)ut now decided to separate and scatter over the 
country, after selling the lumber, stores, etc., including some 
of the butter they had brought in kegs, packed in hogsheads of 
salt, at $1 per lb. They sold the vessel and what was left on 
board for about $10,000 and gave $525 to each of the 21 men 
now left. The vessel was afterward used as a river boat on the 
Sacramento. Michael R. Sylvester went to work as a carpenter 
at $16 per day. Some engaged in mining and others kept 
stores. William B. Josselyn's cousin, George, afterwards sold 
his $14 gun for him to a Spaniard for $100. William was 






^±VO_L1>0 - 




,<ie^ 



CAPT, ELIJAH BAESTOW. 119 

shipkeeper for a sliort time, then in company with George M. 
Josselyn and John H. Cashing, who in their l)oyhood were 
companions at Miss Wales's school at Hanover, bought a whale 
boat for $325, and ran on the Sacramento River, with pro- 
visions and supplies, from Sacramento to Marysville. John 
H. Cushing afterwards sold out and went to the mines. AVil- 
liam B. Josselyn, later, sold his interest to his cousin and went 
home via the Isthmus of Panama. Later the boat struck a 
rock and sank, a total loss. Of wdiat became of the other 
mem1)ers of this company there is little to relate other than is 
found in the beginning of this account. It would here seem 
appropriate to suggest to the remnant of this little band that, 
before many more years pass over their heads and before their 
number get fewer, they meet, not for an hour, at; dinner, but 
for' a day, or several days, that they may live over the old times 
and perhaps put on record some account of them, and join the 
Argonaut Society in the east. 

To take up again the history of the Barstow ship yard : As 
was before stated, Capt. Elijah Barstow returned to Norwell 
and resumed business at his father's yard in Hanover, in 1844. 
This year they built the brig " GEORGE OTIS," 175 tons, for 
George Allen of Scituate. Capt. Nehemiah ]Manson commanded 
her in the South American trade. In 1845 Capt. Barstow 
l)uilt the brig " ANN CAROLINE," 190 tons. Capt. Reynolds, 
Chatham. She left for Ireland with a cargo of provisions, 
struck an iceberg when near the end of her first voyage off the 
coast of Ireland and was lost. Owned by Alpheus Hardy of 
Boston. Sanniel H. Church and Isaac Haskins, (fathers of the 
present Samuel S. Church and AVilliam C. Haskins,) under the 
firm name of Church & Haskins, were caulkers, and w^orked on 
Foster's, Briggs', Barstow's and many of the other yards. The 
Eellses did the iron work on all the vessels built on the Barstow 
Yards as long as they carried on blacksmithing. 

Capt. Elijah Barstow also built in Hanover in 1845 the bark 
"JUSTICE STORY," 199 tons, of Boston; owned by Hardy 
& Baker, and used in the Mediterranean and Southern trade. 
Commanded at one time by Capt. Percival. She was built 
entirely of oak, copper fastened, and in 1859 she was under the 
command of Ca})t. Rider, sailing for Baker & Morrill, Boston. 
In 1865 she was under command of Capt. Moulton and owned 
by R. H. Yarrington, Boston. The last vessel built at this 
yard, and probably the last vessel built in Hanover, was by 



120 CAPT. ELIJAH BAESTOW. 

Capt. Elijah Barstow in the year 1846. This year he built the 
schooner " DEANE," 89 tons, fisherman, Capt. Linnell and 
owned in Scituate by Elijah Barstow and George M. and AYil- 
liam P. Allen. From here Capt. Barstow went to the Fox 
Hill Yard, where he built in company with Capt. AVaterman, the 
full account of which will be found in the chapter devoted to 
that yard. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



MISCELLANEOUS YARDS IN HANOVER. 1 736-1 844. 



JOHN CLARK, NATH L CLARK, BELCHER CLARK, SOLOMON BATES, 
COL. SETH BATES, DAVID KINGMAN, SAM'L ROGERS, ELIJAH 
HAYl\'OOD, JOSHUA TURNER, DEA. ISAAC PERRY, WM. COUSH- 
ING & CO., CALVIN TURNER, ICHABOD THOMAS, BENJ. STOCK- 
BRIDGE, MARTIN STOCKBRIDGE, ISAIAH WING. 

Included in this chapter are accounts of the yards where ship- 
building was carried on for a brief time only by any one 
builder or tirm, or yards about which little information is 
obtainable. There are many vessels whose builders cannot be 
ascertained. A list of these vessels is inserted at the end of 
this chapter. The following is from an old newspaper. 

" Boston, June 7th, 1714, at a Court of Assize held here the first Tuesday 
of May last, a certain person convicted of forging and counterfeiting and 
uttering 5 — 20 shilling Bills of Credit of this Province and putting off 
the said Bills of Credit, or some of them, at the value of true Bills of 
Credit, vfas ordered and sentenced by the said Court to be set in the Pillory 
in the Market Place near the Town House on Thursday 27th of I\Iay, have 
one of his ears cut off, branded on the right cheek with the letter F and 
suffer 12 months imprisonment &c, which was accordingly put into Execu- 
tion on the said day." — Boston News Letter. 

If a punishment less severe could have been inflicted on the 
people who kept the records of these days at the Ports of Entry 
with almost criminal negligence and the same punishment 
inflicted on the British who took away at the evacuation of 
Boston, nearly all the records. Me might in a measure feel 
revenged for the harm done our history of the shipping interest. 
Although we have proof that many vessels were built here 
between 1715 and 17bO, the records of scarcely half a dozen 
have been preserved. The papers often referred to these 



122 EARLY SHIPBUILDING IN HANOVER. 

vessels in a general way, an instance of which is found in the 
following extract : 

"Boston (June 12, 1727). We hear from the Towns on the Cape that 
the Vessels which have been eniplojed on the Whale Fishery off at Sea 
this Spring, are generally upon the Return, the Season for their taking of 
them being near over, and the Whales being wild and a moving posture, 
in which they run with incredible Speed, and to avast distance, which has 
been too long a run for our Vessels hitherto to pursue them in, so as to 
know their resort, but one vessel has been (we hear) fitted out for, and 
sent out ujion a discovering Voyage, for that end; the return of which 
some are even impatiently waiting for: Great Success hath this Spring 
attended that dangerous design in the general, altho' some have returned 
empty : the Value of what has been taken that way in Oil, Bone, &c. 
Avithin the 3 Spring Months by the Vessels Crews fitted out from the 
Towns on the Cape, from Rhode Island, and Nantucket, is what will 
amount higher than usual ; the Bone of one Whale lately brought in, 
weighed fifteen hundred and fifty Pounds. Divine Providence has wisely 
ordered it, that the places adjacent to the Sea, in some of which the Farms 
are inconsiderable, to what they are elsewhere, may be supported by 
various ways sucking of the abundance of the Seas, and of the Treasures 
hid in the Sand." — The New-Eng Weekly Journal. 

Barry says that " during the palmy days of shipbuilding in 
Hanover, 1800 to 1808, tive or six yards were in active opera- 
tion and at least ten vessels were fitted annually for the sea. 
The scene of North River was one of animation and industry. 
Every morning the carpenters might be seen, crossing the 
pastures or walking along the river bank, or over the tiny 
'Rainbow Bridge' to the place of their daily toil." "The 
pastures too were strewed with timber, and teams of ' fat oxen' 
daily brought ni, from the forests around, their loads of white 
oak, beech, hacmatack, maple, pine and other timber." All 
were active and when, on a Saturday night, 4U0 shipcarpenters 
gathered at Hanover 4 Corners it presented an appearance 
which has not been seen since the prosperous shipbuilding days. 
But the village is growing in wealth and in })opulation, and 
though the alewives and the rum are fast growing scarcer, the 
town is on the eve of a prosperous future. oOO of herring were 
sold in 1799 at the Four Corners for 4 shillings, and 4 gal. of 
W. I. rum for £1 6s. In Barber's "Historical Collections" 
appears the following about Hanover : 

" In 1S37 tliere were 12000 pairs of shoes manufactured valued at 
$10500 ; males employed, 35 ; feinales, 26 ; There were three 
forges; 130 tons of bar iron were manufactured: hands employed, 
14. Two air and cupola furnaces, 2 anchor shops, i tack factory at 
which 8 hands were employed. Considerable business is done in 
shipbuilding." 



BARNEY GOULD. 123 

In the summer of 1888 an elderly man passed through the 
"Corners," who will be remembered by the old people at least ; 
Barney Gould, wdio made periodical trips to Boston with his 
handcart or wheel-barrow, over the old stage road years ago. 
Barney hails from Hyannis, and his yearly adA^ent, as he toiled 
along the dusty road, was the delight of the small boy and 
excited much sympathy from older people in his partially 
demented state of mind. Most people thought he had made 
his last trip long since and he was almost forgotten, but he 
again made his appearance minus his trappings. Old age has 
claimed him and the vigor of his youthful days has departed, 
but his old habits cling to him and he thought that he would 
make one more journey and l)id farewell to the many friends, 
who, in old times, welcomed him and furnished him entertain- 
ment on his lengthy tramps. He remained over night at the 
"Corners" with Mr. Hutchins, and started with renewed courage 
the next day. This was probably the last time that Hanover 
people W'ill see poor Barney. He once took a letter from. 
Hanover to San Francisco and brought an answer back for six 
cents. He travelled all the way on foot and loves to tell of his 
experiences with the Indians and in the mining camps in the 
mountains ; he is now 69 years old. 

The first ship-yard in Hanover, not spoken of in the chapters 
preceding this, was the " Clark Yard," next below the "Bridge 
Yards," and it was located on land owned l)y the late J. O. 
French, M. D. This yard was probably improved as early as 
1736 by John Clark, who mar. Abigail Tolman, of Scituate,. 
and lived in an ancient house, two stories high in front, and 
sloping on the back nearly to the ground, which stood on Wash- 
ington street, between the residence of the late Sam. Salmond 
and the Four Corners. He was a descendant of Thomas, who 
came into Scituate from Plymouth in 1674. His sons Nathan- 
iel and Belcher succeeded him at this yard. Nathaniel was born 
in 1741 and died in 1814. He lived on Washington street, 
nearly opposite where Barney Dagan now resides. He has de- 
scendants in Plymouth and Hanover, Mass., iii Rochester, and 
in jVIaine. His son Nathaniel was a ship-carpenter, also his son 
Benjamin, who moved to JVIedford, where he was employed by 
Jonathan Sampson, and left a family there. Belcher w^as born 
1742, and died Oct. 17, 1826. He lived on Washington street, 
on the spot where now stands the house of the late Sam. Sal- 
mond, still occupied by Mr. Salmond's wddow. He mar. first. 



124 THE CLARK YARD AXD BATES YARD. 

Ann AVacle, 1771 ; second, Sarah Perry, duu. of Nathaniel 
Josselyn, of Pembroke, 17<S3. They had nine children, some 
of whom have descendants living in Maine, Hanover, Pem- 
broke, ]\Iedford, and Bridge water. His son Zebulon, a ship- 
wright, b. 1780, mar. Christiana, dau. of Isaac Josselyn, in 
1812. Tney had eight children, among whom were William, 
b. Nov. 23, 1823, and Charles, b. July 27, 1819, mar. Sarah 
Cook. Charles lives in Pembroke, and has had one son, Chas. 
Carrol, who d. in the war, one dau., Fanny, who mar. Frank 
White, of Peml)roke, and who has two children. Another dau., 
Eliza Hobart, is mar. and lives at So. Braintree. A third dau., 
Lomira, mar. Peleg Stuitevant, and lives in Centre Hanover. 

It was probably at this yard that Solomon, and, later, Seth 
Bates built. Solomon Bates was the eldest son of Solomon, 
and a direct descendant of Clement Bates, of Hingham. He 
was b. June 29, 1741, and lived in the house built by his father, 
situated near Broadway, a few rods northeast of where Morrill 
Phillips' barn now stands, in South Hanover. It was afterward 
occupied by Miss Leah Damon and her dau., and later by 
Laban, father of Joshua Rose, of So. Hanover. The house 
was on the old road that led from Weymouth to the Indian 
Head, which was discontinued some seventy-five years ago. A 
descendant of Mr. Bates, in describing the house some thirty 
years ago, wrote : "It was substantially built, mostly of oak 
timber, and evidently by a ship-carpenter. The walls were 
constructed of plank, grooved together, and tree-nailed to the 
sills and plates. The posts were all kneed in the same manner 
that ships are kneed." There seems to be an account of but 
one vessel built by him, which was his last in Hanover. This 
was in 1787, Sch. " SPEEDWELL," 57 tons, of Scituate ; owned 
by James Briggs of Scituate, Jos. Otis of Boston, Mercy Otis 
of Scituate, widow, Elijah Cushing of Pembroke, yeoman, and 
by Solomon Bates of Hanover, shipwright. Built at Hanover. 
This same year he moved to Fayette, Me., where he d. in 1818, 
aged seventy-seven. He left a large family, having had thir- 
teen children, some of whom have descendants living in Han- 
over, Mass. ; in Leeds and in Green, ]\Ie. ; St. Albans, Vt. ; 
and a son, Solomon, a ship-carpenter, who lived in Norridge- 
wock. Me. For twenty-one years he was Town Clerk of Fay- 
ette, in the Massachusetts Senate two, and in the House ten 
years. He left many descendants in Maine and New York. 

Solomon Bates' cousin Seth probably succeeded him at this 



Kingman's yard. 125 

yard. It is certain that he l)uilt liere late in the last century, 
and in 1797 the Sch. "LITTLE CHERUB," 65 tons, of Dux- 
bury, owned by Seth Bates, of Hanover, and others, was l)uilt 
at Hanover l>y Seth Bates, shipwritrht. Col. 8eth Bates, was 
b. 1735, and mar., in 1757, Anne Neal. He built the house 
on Centre street, near Myrtle, at So. Hanover, afterward the 
residence of Enos Bates, where the widow and son of Enos, Jr. 
now live. He d. in Boston, April 9, 1820, leaving a numerous 
posterity, whose descendants can easily be traced in Barry's 
"History of Hanover." 

Passing the Perry, Smith, Eells, and Barstow yards, accounts of 
which are given in the preceding chapters, we come to the "King- 
man Yard," so called, which is next to the last yard in Hanover in 
location, and was situated a little below Barstow's lower yard. 
David Kinciman, who built at this yard, employed, for a time, 
David Stockl)ridge as agent to look after his ship-building in- 
terests, jNIr. Kingman being l)usy at the Four Corners, where 
he built the tavern stand, afterward kept by Joseph Pocorny, 
later by Henry Costley, Frank Howard, William Hand, and 
W. B. Ames, respectively, but still owned by the widow of 
Frank Howard. It is now known as the " Hanover House." 
David Kingman was b- 1763, at East Bridge water, and mar. 
Elizabeth, dau. of Col. or Capt. Smith, of Mendon. He was 
son of Capt. David, b. 1733, wdio was son of David, b. 1708, 
who was son of John, b. 1664, who was son of John, who 
was son of Henry, of Weymouth, who was made free in 1<)36. 
David d. 1812, aged forty-nine years, leaving children : 1. So- 
phia, who mar. Simeon Ford, and d. 1839. 2. Mary, who 
mar. Lauren Ford, 1816 ; both reside in Herkimer, N. Y. 
3. Eliza, mar. 1809, Elijah Hay ward, who became a partner 
of Mr. Kingman ; she d. 1834. 4. Lucy, mar. Oran Gray 
Otis, of Herkimer, N.Y., and d. in 1837. 5. Susan. 6. George. 
7. Frances. 

David Kingman lived at East Bridgewater, in the house 
occupied later by Mr. Chamberlain, opposite the Common, on 
the left hand side going from Hanover, opposite the Soldiers' 
Monument. His ships and Smith's stood less than three rods 
apart when building at the ship-yard. His son George w^ent 
Avith Elijah Barstow to a private school, ke})t by Walter Wal- 
cott and Parker, over Flavell's store, at the Four Corners. The 
entrance used to be by the present back stairway. He evi- 
dently came to Hanover about 1799, as he launched, in 1800,. 



126 SAMUEL ROGERS, ELIJAH HAYWARD, JOSHUA TURNER. 

the ship " MIAXTINOMO," 2^1 tons, of Norwich, named after 
a famous Narragansett Sachem ; David Kingman, builder. She 
was seized by the Spanish, and condemned at Valparaiso in 
1801. This vessel he built on his own account. In 1801, he 
built the Sch. "UNION," 8(3 tons, for Mr. Jaxson of Plymouth. 
He built, in 1802, BrigTn "CALLISTO," 190 tons, of' Boston. 
In 1803, ship " NANKING," 21)0 tons, of Boston. In 1804, 
he l>uilt two ships, and in 1805 three, as follows : 1804. Ship 
"ROLLER," 293 tons, of Boston ; David Kingman, master 
carpenter. 1804. Ship "ANN," 29(i tons, of Baltimore ; David 
Kingman, master carpenter. 1805. Ship "LAURA," 293 tons, 
of Boston ; David Kingman, master carpenter. 1805. Ship 
"ROMEO," of Boston, 312 tons, two clecks, three masts; 
length, 96 feet; breadth, 27 feet; depth, 13 feet. David 
Kingman, master carpenter. 

1805. Ship " SUSAN," 311 tons, of Plymouth ; David King- 
man, owner; built at Hanover. Samuel Rogers was master 
carpenter of the " Susan," which is the only vessel he built in 
Hanover. Later, he is found building in Marshlield, and at the 
Poster's yard, in Norwell. 

It will be seen that the following vessels, built by David 
Kingman, averaged larger than those l)uilt at any other yard in 
Hanover, nearly all of them beino: over three hundred tons. 
In 1806, he built the ship " CILIRLESTON c^ LIVERPOOL 
PACKET," 325 tons, of Boston, David Kingman, master car- 
penter ; and in 1807, ship "ISABELLA," 3*08 tons, of Hing- 
ham, David Kingman, master carpenter. The next year he 
formed a partnership with his son-in-law, EUjuh Htnjward, and 
they built in company until the year of David Kingman's death. 
Mr. Kingman discontinued active connection with the business, 
and the new hrm emjiloyed Joshua Turner as " boss," to super- 
intend the building of the vessels. An account of him can be 
found under accounts of the Pembroke Yards. They launched, 
in 1809, ship "MASSACHUSETTS," 286 tons, built in Han- 
over, by Joshua Turner; owned in New York. In 1810, ship 
"AMERICA," 3()2 tons, buih in Hanover, by Joshua Turner; 
owned by David Kinuman, Hanover, Luke Hall, Marshtield. 
Also, in 1810, they launched the ship " MT. VERNON," of 
352 tons, which they sold to New York. The next year, 1811, 
they built their last vessel, Avhich was probably the last vessel 
built at this yard ; and this gave them the honor of 1)uilding 
the largest vessel ever built in Hanover. This was the ship 




Barstow's Lower Yard. 

Cushinu's, Wing's, anrl Stockbridge's Yards, helow the wall, on the left. 



THE LARGEST VESSEL EVER BUILT TN IIAXOVER. 127 

** MOHAWK," 407 fons, built in Hanover, by Joshua Turner; 
owner in New York. That emi)ty casks, and perhaps gunda- 
lows, were used to get the " Mohawk " out of the river there is 
little doubt ; and it is truly wonderful that so large a vessel 
could be launched at this point in the river, and safely reach the 
ocean. 

The next yard below, which w^as the last in location in Han- 
over, was known in later years as the "Wing Yard." Its tirst 
occupant of record was Dea. Isaac Perry, who came down from 
his old 3^ards above and built one ship, of some 300 tons. This 
was undoubtedly the yard used by Wm. Coushing & Co., who 
built, in ISOl, for David Kinsman, a briir, probablv the 
"FREDERICK," 153 tons, afterward sold to William Gray, of 
Boston. Mr. Coushing (or Cushins:) also built, in 1803, the 
brig "SHORT STAPLE," 172 tons, of Boston. There ap- 
pears, by a certificate from the Deputy Collector of the District 
of Barnstable, dated Aug. 30th, 180(3, and filed at the Custom 
House in Boston, that this vessel having been stranded, the 
papers were surrendered at Wellfleet. She was condemned as 
unsea worthy, and broken up at Teueritie. She was built at 
Hanover, by 

master carpenter. Who William 
Cushing was I have been unable 
to ascertain. He lived in Peml)roke, 
and may have been a descendant of 
Col. Cushing, whose death is recorded in the Boston JSfews Let- 
ter and JS/ew England Clironicle, of June 28, 1762 : 

"Saturday last, as Col. Cushing, of Hanover, having been transacting 
some business in the town, was preparing to return home, while he was 
putting on one of his boots, instantly dropped down dead, without com- 
plaining of any disorder, or speaking a word." 

In 1806, Sch. "RISING SUN," of 80 tons, was built in Han- 
over, by Calvin Turner and Ichahod Thomas, who were pre- 
viously the "(fi Co." of Wm. Coushing & Co. She was owned 
by Freeman and Ebenezer Burgess, of Harwich. David Tur- 
ner was son of Calvin Turner, and grandson of Capt. Benjamin. 
He lived on the Briggs Farm, on the Neck, m Pembroke, and 
moved to Duxbury, where he died, leaving a family. (See 
Pembroke Yards for Thomas and Turner.) 

In 1814, Benjamin and Martin Stockbridge built a " pinka" 
on the Wing Yard, and the next year they built a vessel next 




128 stockbridge's yard. 

to the largest ever built in Hanover, which ruined them and 
their father, and was the cause of their losing all of their prop- 
erty. This was in 1815, the ship "SOLON," 402 tons, of 
Hanover; owned by Benjamin and jMartin Stockbridge, of Han- 
over; Benjamin Stockbridge, master carpenter. This was the 
last vessel built by them. After keeping it until the interest 
money had eaten up most of their princiiial, they got Alden 
Briggs to sell it at a great sacrifice. Benjamin and Martin were 
sons of Squire David Stockbridge, who lived on the farm now 
occupied by E, Q. Sylvester. Squire David owned all the land 
which was built on by the Barstows, Smiths ( Josiah and Al- 
bert), Kingmans, and Benjamin and Martin Stockbridge, and 
others. Squire David d. in Hanover, May 15, 1858, aged sev- 
enty-four. He had children : Benjamin, who mar. and had a 
dau. Mary, who mar. Robert Eells. JMartin, Avho mar. late in 
life. David, whose grandson, Benj. F. White, son of Caroline, 
has recently been appointed Governor of Montana. Joseph. 
Jane, who mar. Capt. Miller Smith, who went in Stockbridge's 
ship, which was the elephant on the hands of the Stockbridge 
family. Deborah, who mar. Thomas Turner, father of Thomas 
Turner, of Hanover. Ruth, who mar. James Turner, father of 
the present James, of Hanover, and lived on the farm now occu- 
pied by Welsh, near the Third Oliff. The following account of 
the death of John, brother of S(iuire David Stock])ridge, ap- 
peared in The Boston Chronicle for 1768, Feb. 8-15 : 

"On Wednesday last, Mr. John Stockbridge, of Pembroke, son of Col. 
Stockbridge, of Hanover, was unfortunately killed by the falling of a tree. 
This young gentleman's death is much lamented." 

Also, in The Boston Chronide for 1768, Feb. 15-22 : 

"Mr. John Stockbridge, the young gentleman who was unfortunately 
killed by the falling of a tree, as mentioned in our last, was second son of 
David Stockbridge, Esq., and grandson of the Honourable John Gushing, 
Esq., and of the worthy and aged Deacon Stockbridge; was only twenty- 
six years old." 

Their genealogy may be found in Barry's " History of Han- 
over."* 

* On his grave-stone in the Cemetery at Centre Hanover is a representation of his 
accident (he being beneath ihe tree, with axe in hand), and the following inscription: 
" .Sic Transit Gloria Mitndi , Memento Mori. Erected in memory of Mr. John Stock- 
bridge of fair & unblemished character. In deportment modest, benevolent, uniform & 
virtuous. Son of Coll. David Stockbridge descended from ye mother's side from ye eld- 
est daughter of the Hon. John Cushing, Esq : whose mortality has rendered the male 
issue of that branch of that respected family extinct. He Lived beloved and died uni- 
versally lamented. His death was sudden, premature, awful & violent, providentially 
occasioned by the fall of a tree. He was born December Anno Domini 1741 and de- 
parted this transitory life February 10, A. Domini 1768 aged 26 years 1 month 23 days. 
No sum can purchase such a grant that man shall never die. 

Naked as from the earth we came and crept into life at first 
We to the earth return again and mingle with the dust." 



wing's yard. 129 

The next year, ISlfi, the Wings l)uilt a vessel at this yard 
which came near ruining them, and which was finally sold for 
them by Alden Briggs at a great loss. Isaiah built the vessel, 
and interested with him were Baclielor and Elijah, his brothers, 
who furnished timber from their extensive lands. Benjamin 
Wing, another brother, was also interested in this vessel. 
Their yard was located about where the wall now runs to the 
river, below Barstow's last yard in Hanover. Paul Perry was 
their master workman. This vessel was finished in 1816, after 
lying at Union Bridge until the Embargo was removed, and was 
finally sold to Capt. Levi Starbuck, of Nantucket. Isaiah 
Wing was a nati\'e of Hanover. He attended the Academy, 
after which he studied law with Mr. Winslow, and practised for 
a time at the Four Corners. He finally removed with his fam- 
ily to Cincinnati, O., where he died. The Wings, including 
iSylvanus and Ebenezer, lived in the western part rf the town, 
corner of Winter and Circuit streets, on the site of the house 
afterward erected and occupied by Thomas M. Bates, a relative. 
Isaiah Wing, 2nd, was Lieutenant Second Regiment, First Brig- 
ade, Fifth Division, Hanover Militia, 1815. The male branch 
of the family is probalily extinct, and of the female descend- 
ants, Lydia, dau. of Bachelor, mar. Capt. Thomas M. Bates, 
1807. William, possibly a brother of the elder Wings, mar. 
Huldah C, dau. of Eobert L. Eells, Nov. 2(), 1789. She d. in 
New York. 

The following is a list of vessels built in Planover, but at 
what particular yard each was built is not known : 1784. Sch. 
"POLLY," 52 tons, of Plymouth. 1784. Sch. "LARK," 40 
tons, of Plpnouth. 1784. Sch. " SALLY ROBBIN," 58 tons, 
Thomas Jackson, Jr. , Plymouth, owner. 1784. Sch. " SALLY," 
58 tons, of Newburyport. 1784. Ship "BRITANNIA," 163 
tons, of Boston. 1784. Sch. " AMERICA," 49 tons. 1785. 
Sch. " HAWK," of Plymouth. 1787. Sch. " LYDIA," 54 tons, 
of Plymouth. 1787. Sch. "AMERICA," 50 tons, of Boston. 
1788. Sch. "BETSEY," 43 tons, of Plymouth. 1789. Ship 
"ROBERT." 1791. Sch. "DIANA," 52 tons, of Cohasset. 
1792. Ship "FRANKLIN," 179 tons, of Boston, afterward 
sold to Marblehead. 1792. Sch. " PAULINA," 74 tons, of 
Boston. 1793. Brig "JANE," 145 tons, of Boston. 1793. 
Sch. "JANE," 120 tons, of Boston. 1795. Brig "NEP- 
TUNE," 138 tons, of New London, Conn. 1795. Sch. 
"LYDIA," 54 tons, of Plymouth. 1796. Sloop " PACK- 
ETT," 22 tons, owned by Jed. Ewell, Marshfield, and Reuben 



130 VESSELS BUILT IN HANOVER, MASS. 

Cui-tis, Hanover. 1796. BrUj; "ALERT," 1(U tons, of Bos- 
ton. 1798. Sch. EEBECCA," 77 tons, of Duxbuiy. 1798. 
Sch. "NEW STATE," 51 tons, of Plymouth. 1799. Brig't'n 
"MARY," 169 tons, of New York ; at\erward sold to Boston. 
She wjis formerly rigijed a ship. 1799. Sch. "LUCY," 93 
tons, of Plymouth. 1801. Sch. "FREDERICK," 107 tons, of 
Boston. 1802. Sloop " PACKET," 22 tons, of Boston, " the 
said vessel having been forcilily entered, and the original pa- 
pers stolen," as appears by the oath of James Fenno, master 
and owner, tiled in the Custom House at Boston. 1803. Ship 
" MENTOR," of New Bedford. 1804. Sloop " PACKET," 52 
tons, of Plymouth. 1804. Ship "HURON," of New Bedford. 
1804. Ship "ALONZO," of New Bedford. 1806. Ship "CEN- 
TURY," 280 tons, of New York. 1806. Ship "LEONID AS," 
of New Bedford. 1807. Ship "FANNY," of New Bedford. 
1810. Ship "ELIZA BARKER," of New Bedford. 1810. 
Ship "LUCIES," of New Bedford. 1817. Bark "FRANK- 
LIN," of Rochester; lost at Macio, on the coast of Brazil, in 
1834. In 1881, there was at Greenport, L. I., the whaleship 
" PENN," which, after sixty-three years of service, was to be 
broken up at New Bedford. She was built in 1818, in Hano- 
ver. 1823. Ship "COREL," 335 tons, of New York. 1838. 
Hermaphrodite Brig " PAULINE TAYLOR," 150 tons, oak, 
copper and iron fastened, one deck ; owned in 1859 by H. Lin- 
coln, Boston, Capt. Taylor. 1844. Brig "PARANA," 209 
tons, oak ; owned in 1863 by H. S. French & Co., Sag Harbor, 
Capt. Green. 




Fox (or Sunset) Hill Ship-yard. 
Nortli River. 



CHAPTER IX. 



FOX HILL YARD. 1 690-1 S69. 



NATHANIEL CHURCH, JOHN PALMER, MICHAEL FORD, WILLIAM 
COPELAND, ELIAS W. PRATT, ELISHA TOLMAN, MR. MERRITT, 
CAPT. THOMAS WATERMAN, JOSEPH S. BATES, CAPT. ELISHA 
BARSTOW, THOMAS B. WATERMAN. 

CCARCE a mile below North Eiver Bridge at the foot of 
*^ the easterly slope of Fox Hill and at the foot of Sunset 
Hill was located a shipyard, whose earliest occupants were 
probably Nathaniel Church and John Palmer, about 1690. 
Nathaniel Church settled in Scituate (now Norwell), in 1666. 
His form was on North River, south of Cornet Stetson's, and 
included the " Bald Hills." His house stood by the river 
nearly opposite Job's Landing. He was a younger brother of 
Col. Benj. Church, the noted hero of the Indian wars. Nath'l 
had sons : Nathaniel, Joseph and Caleb, who have descendants 
living in Hanover and Marshfield. Nathaniel, the shipbuilder, 
d. in 1700. 

John Palmer's son, John Jr., lived near the junction of the 
roads southeast of Church hill, not fVir from the 3rd Herring 
Brook. The father was in So. Scituate previous to 1660, and 
during that year built " John Palmer's Log Bridge," so called, 
over the 3rd Herring Brook, near where the present bridge 
that connects Planover and Norwell is located. The descend- 
ants of Church and Palmer probably continued the business 
of shipbuilding here. The next names that appear to have been 
used in connection with shipbuilding at this yard were those 
of ]Michael Ford and his brother-in-law William Copeland. 



132 MICHAEL FORD. 

yy , ^ ^ *) was ofr. son of Wm. of ^Nlarshfiekl, 

(^^y^/o^^pn^'^^ ^^^^^i/f^y~ "^'ho lived on the east side of Xorth 

River, near " Gravelly Beach," 
where Michael was born. ^lichael. Sr. mar. Roda Copeland in 
1778, and settled on a farm purchased of Ebenezer Stetson, one 
half mile above Cornet's Rocks on Xoith River. His son 
]Michael succeeded him. William Copeland and ^lichael Ford, Jr. 
worked on Smith's Yard in Hanover in 1799. Michael Ford 
was Sergeant in the militia company commanded by Lieut. 
Tolman. He did the joiner work on the vessels on the way 
down river, and while working on the "Samos," (?) stuck a 
chisel into his knee, which lamed him for life. ^Michael Ford had 
sons : ^Michael, now living in East Boston and spoken of foither 
on, AVilliam C, now dead, and David Barnes, who married 
Lavinia Sherman, and they have children : Angela B., Chauncy 
1)., Edith F. and Howard I. David Barnes Ford now resides 
in Hanover Four Corners. Michael Ford, 2d. died in ls77, 
at an advanced age. His son Michael, who now lives in East 
Boston, works in the ship yards there at the age of 75, and can 
hew a spar more " trae " than most carpenters at 30. He was b. 
in 1814, mar. ^Mary A. Russell of Ipswich, and had children : 
Mary G. and John W. At sixteen years of age, Michael 3d, 
went into the shipvard of his father — Copeland, Ford & Pratt. 
The "Mary Ballard" was the first vessel that Michael, 3d, 
worked on. He remembers going down river in her and anchor- 
ing off the Gurnet, being one of the crew under Capt. Cushing, 
and he also remembers nearly freezing to death, l)esides being 
very sick, while waiting for a wind to get to Boston. He went 
to Medford in 183<i, and worked for Jotham Stetson, Waterman 
& Ewell and Paul Curtis. In 1842 he went to East Boston, 
where he made windlasses for Samuel Hall, Donald ^lackay & 
O., and for E. &. H. O. Briggs, South Boston. Before leaving 
North River he worked on Barstow's, C. O. & Henry Briggs', 
Foster's and other yards, and built together with Abner and 
Joshua Stetson and Martin Curtis in 1838 the "Outesie,"in 
Hanover, some 200 feet above Barstow's Yard. An incident is 
related as having occurred on the old Copehmd &. Ford Yard. 
One day some one on the yard, who believed in eating consid- 
erable beef, was planing a cathead, pu:Shing the plane with great 
strength, when another man, who was Grahamite, and did not 
believe in meat, l)eing surprised at seeing a person who lived 
on beef displaying so much strength, when he hini'^elf was 
quite weak, exclaimed, "Why, Mr. Ford, what makes you so 




^^^c c-©c-»-, /z^*^;^^ -C**^~*-»^ 



COPELAND & FORD BARKER TURNER. 133 

strong?" "Boot", beef," was the reply. AVe hope the other 
man was eonverted. 



William Copeland was a grandson of Joseph, Avho came 
into Scituate from Bridgewater in 1730. The cliildren of 
Joseph were remarkable for their longevity. In 1830 ten 
of his ehildrcMi were living, the youngest 72, the oldest 93, 
the sum of their ages being 825 years, and all, save two, had 
families, but there are no male descendants now living. The 
female members married into the families of Eells, Barker, 
Tolman, Ford and Stetson. C^harles Tolman was grand- 
neph(>w of a Copeland. AVilliam's father, William, and his 
uncle, Ebenezer, were shi})buil(lers. William Copeland, Jr., 
was born in the house now owned and occupied by AVilliam C. 
Tolman, grandnephew of William, Sr., next the old Dea. Eben 
Stetson place. William, the shii)builder, left no children. 
]\lichael Ford and his ancestors were shipbuilders and carpen- 
ters at the old Chittenden yard and at the yards in Marshtield, 
Hanover and Pembroke, previous to Michael's occupying the 
Fox Hill yard. William Copeland was joiner on other yards 
before building as partner with i\Ir. Ford at this yard. It is 
therefore a <iuestion whether the Copelands or Fords occupied 
this yard i)revious to 1815. 

Before 1815 Barl'cr Turner, who afterwards built at the 
"Brick-kilns " and " liridge " occupied this yard. Here in 1813 
the sch. "ORIENT," 42 tons, was built by Barker Turner for 
Ensign Otis, Jr., Thomas Rider and Shadrach Standish, Scit- 
uat€,"and in 1814 the sch. "BEAVER," 29 tons, w:is built by 
Barker Turner for Lenuuil Vinal and Isaiah Alden, Ji-., Scit- 
uate. In 1815 Mr. Copeland built a large ship at this yard. 
B. & M. Stockbridge's gundalo was used under this ship 
during three tides in 1815. This was the ship "HEROINE," 
3.37 tons, owned at Boston, by William Shinnnin & O., W^il- 
liam Copeland, master carpenter. In 1829 the "Heroine" 
was added to the Fairhaven whaling fleet, and made voyages in 
the South Atlantic until 1839, when she went into the Pacific 
and Indian Oceans. In 1852 during a severe gale the second 
mate, C. Fidler, and five men were washed overboard and the 
"Heroine" was l)adly injured, and in September of the same 
year she was considerably damaged by fire. She was con- 
demned at Honolulu, December, 1852, in her 38th jeav. 



134 TURNER & COPELAND. 




pu,/-^^ cA^-^'^'^n,^ 



^-^^ J built together in 181 ff 

• ^/^""^ ^ two vessels, viz : 

sch. " MORNING 
STAR," 65 tons, of 
/^ /f \ Orleans, afterward 

c^t>t''^,-y^ l^a-^^^^^^^*^'*'''*^ of New Bedford. 
/ The oak for this sch. 

cost $7 per ton. She was begun in Oct., 1815, and launched 
May, 1816. They also built the sch. "MILO," 53 tons, of 
Boston, built at Scituate. William Copeland built alone the 
same year, 1816, the sch. "FRIENDSHIP," 53 tons, of PIull, 
owned by Paul Billings, James H. & Martin D. Merritt and 
Reuben Damon of Scituate. Owned in 1850 by Jacob Waldea 
& O. at Boston, William Copeland, Jr., M. C. Built prob- 
ably on the same model as the"Milo." These two latter 
schooners were pink sterns, or "pinkies," or " pinkas," as they 
used to call them, and built for fishing smacks. They were 
launched on the same ways ; one was on the stocks ahead of the 
other and both were launched at dusk in the early evening of 
the same day. Mr. Turner signalized the event by lighting a 
numl)er of tar barrels, the illumination l)eing visible for miles 
around. An incident is related of a certain Mr. Nye of Pem- 
broke, who, while Mr. Turner was building at this yard, would 
come across the river at night and "hook" rum from a jug that 
Mr. Turner used to keep in his chest. Finally two men were 
set to watch and after Air. Nye had taken a good drink and 
filled up his flask they seized him. Sometime afterward Mr. 
Nye suddenly died from the efl'ects of an overdose of liquor, 
taken throuoh a straw from a barrel. 

In 1817 the sch. "FAME," 47 tons, was built by Barker 
Turner for Isaiah Alden, Jr., H. Damon, Cummins Jenkins 
and James Turner Ford, Scituate. About this time Oaleb 
Turner built here in company with his brother Barker. Wil- 
liam Copeland appears not to have built many vessels prior to 
1819 when he built in company with Thomas AVaterman and 
Joseph S. Bates. Caleb Turner was grandson of Capt. Benja- 
min of Pembroke and son of Nathaniel of Scituate, and brother 
of Barker Turner, Sen. He lived in the Uncle Roger Stetson 
House and left a family who moved to South Bridgewater. 

built in 1818 the sch. 



(^ ) "ROXANXA," 73 tons, 



for John Beal, Snell Wade, 
^^**^/<7^ /TV Simeon Litchtield and 

William Vinal, Scituate,. 
■afterward sold to Boston. 



GC^'^'^-^wCc^ JtM,^-^^,,^^, 



COPELAND, FORD & PRATT. 135 

She was commenced in Nov, 1817, and launched, in May, 1818, 
Also in 1818 they built the sch. " MAKY JOXES," 56 tons, of 
Scituate, owned by Gushing Otis, James and Asa Litchfield. 
Caleb Baily, 3rd, and Haywood Vinal of Scituate : used in fish- 
ing and coasting, and in April, 1819, sch. "CYRENE," 58 tons, 
of Boston, which they began in Nov., 1818. Owners, Howard 
Vinal, Silas Prouty and Cashing Otis of Scituate, & O., 
Caleb and Barker Turner, M. C. In 1820 the sch. " GEORGE 
WASHINGTON," 67 tons, was built by Barker Turner for 
Isaiah Alden, Jr., Ichabod Alden, Colman Jenkins, Cushing 
Otis, and Elisha Foster, Jr., Scituate. This vessel was after- 
ward lost at sea. Also the same year, 1820, sch. "LARK," 
pink stern, 40 tons, built by Barker Turner and sold to Kings- 
ton. Not lono; after this Barker Turner removed to the Brick- 
kiln Yard. 

In 1819 William Copeland, Michael Ford and Elias W. Pratt 
formed a partnership under the firm name of Copeland, Ford & 
Pratt. Joseph S. Bates and Thos. Waterman also built in 
company with Wm. Copeland. Gad Leavitt lived on the yard 
about this time. William Copeland was the master carpenter 
of this and the succeeding firm. Major Elias W.Pratt came 
from some other town into Scituate. He mar. three times and 
had children by his first two wives : Elias E., (mar. and living 
in New Haven, Conn.,) William B., (now dead,) Charles C, 
(mar. Hannah Hart and has one child,) Elizabeth B., (who 
mar. George W. Stetson and now lives in Medford,) Abby and 
Ruth (l)()tli dead,) and Emeline A., b. Jan. 9, 1831, mar. Nov. 
1, 1850, Seth E. Bartlett of Duxbury, who died March 18, 
1852. They had one child, born 1851, who mar. Annie 
Eatough, of Taunton, May 6, 1876. Their children are 1. John 
E., bom Jan. 25., 1878 ; 2. Sadie E. b. Aug. 24, 1880. They 
now live in Montreal, Canada. Emeline A. mar. secondly 
Loami B. Sylvester of Hanover, June 1(5, 1858, he d. in the 
war, Sept. 6, 1862. They had one child, born May 27, 1859. 
(See Bridire Yards, Hanover). Emeline A. mar. for her third 
husband Henry S. Bates, Jan. 22, 1888. In 1819 Copeland, 
Ford & Pratt built a Schooner for Capt David Whiting & O., 
Hingham. 

/^T^jyifyy^ x=' j^ c-^ built the same year, 1819, 

/^^^C^^^»-.^^^ ^^^^--^-^^trrrxh^ bri^ " CASHIER," 73 

^^^''^^tt^ ^^^^JcV-y^c^^v-, . tons, of Boston. Owned 

y^At< /^ j€jt.^^~^ ^\y ^Villiam Copeland, 

^ ^ ^ Jr., Thomas Waterman, 



l;>(i AVM. COrKLANO S: CO. 

Scituato : Kboiuvor (^hiulwick and ,losoi>h 8. Bntos;, of Ilanover 
tt O. This vossol may liavo boon built in Ilanovor :is lior 
voiiistor statos but as two or throo vossols \Yore soniotinios on 
tho ways at tho Fi>x Hill Yard at tho sanio tinH\ sho may have 
boon built horo. S<^niotinio botwoon 1S1;> and 1824. tlioro ontorod 
into this tirni Kiislia TohnaiK Klisha Morritt* and «ino i^thor, 
and tho tirm namo was ohangod about 1824 to ]]';Uia»i Cojye- 
hiiid d* Co. Elislia Toliuan was a diroot dosoondant ot" Capt. 
Bouianiin. who came to Soituato from Dmvhostor in 1709. 
Klisha hixd ohildron, Sanuud. C'harlos anil othors. Sanuiol had 
ohildron : Sanuiol and flosoph, who woro ship Jdinors. and 
Koboooa. Sanuiol was Captain o( a militia oompany ot' t\>ot in 
181.'>. ITo was intorostod in many oi' tho Yards, boiuir ono of 
tho tirm during tho buiidiuii- o^ many vossols at tho Fox Hill 
and Wanton yards, anil workod joinoring on most all tho yards. 
Ho had sons ; Sanuiol and Jamos T., who workod on the yards 
up river, and two ohildron who died. Sanuiol mar. 1. Sarah, 
dau. of ^Villiam AA'inslow. 2. Abigail, dau. ot' Klijah Amos, 
and widow of Israel Hatoh. There was one ehild by tho tirst 
marriage: Samuel dr.. who mar. Evoleen Loland, and they 
ha\o one ehild, Gladys. James T., son of Samuel. Sr. mar. 
Mary T., daughter ot' C O. Briggs.and lives eornor of Oakland 
Avenue and Broadway, in tho house formerly oeeupied by 
Doetors Fobos, Ciarratt. and Howns sueeessivoly. They have 
two ehildren, ]M. Annaf and Herbert (\. a graduate ot' Yale. 
Klisha Tolman fell down the hold ot' tho Brig ^SIosoow ( ?) on 
her wav down river and broke his nook. The now tirm built in 
1824 tile brig '"BYKOX," 193 tons, for AVilliam Lovering of 
Boston, afterward sold to Now Bedford. AVilliam Copoland. 
Jr.. M. C. 182:i. brig "LKXIXGTOX." 197 tons, of Boston. 
AN'illiam Copoland, dr., M. G.. eondemned at Mauritius. 18rni. 
In 182(1 brig "MOSCOW." 277 tons, of Boston. Lost otl' 
California before it was annexed to the United States. William 
Copoland. dr.. M. C\ 1827 brig "SAMOS." 248 tons, of 
Boston, owned by Windsor Kay i?c O. Owned in 1844 by 
Vernon Brown, of Boston. A\'illiam Copoland, dr., M. C. 
Capt. C. B. Graves wont in tho In'ig '" Samos." in 1>;>>. from 
Stoekholm to Now York. She used to sail bitwoon the AA'ost 
Indies and the Bait lo. regularly. Page Browor was master of 
her. after him tho late "William Keed of Chelsea. Capt. vxraves 



* See Chapter Miscellaneous Yards, Scituate^ 
■- See Chap. Brurjrs Yar Js. 




C^<^c.^<^^ 



WM. COPELAND & CO. 137 

thinks she was put under the Spanish flao- Liter. In 1828, was 
built the brio- '' LEDA," 258 tons, for David Eells, or Ellis, of 
Boston, William Copeland, M. C. 1829, sch. "ORION," GO 
tons, of Cohasset. Owned by Howard Vinal, William Cope- 
land, Jr., William Haskins, Elias W. Pratt and INIichael Ford, 
of Scituate. William Copeland, Jr., M. C. The next year 
they built two vessels. 1830 ])rig " ODESSA," 180 tons, built 
at Hanover ( ?), and owned by Isaac Hall and Thomas Curtis, 
of Boston. William Copeland, Jr., M. C. 1830, sch. 
"LYCEUM," 65 tons, owned at Scituate by John Beal, Peleg 
Jenkins, Melzar Litchfield, Edw. J. Porter, Michael Ford, 
Elias W. Pratt and William Copeland, Jr,, M. C. In 1832 the 
firm built their last vessel, though Michael Ford had an interest 
in other vessels subsequently built at this yard. This vessel 
was the bark " MARY BALLARD," 260 tons, of Boston, built 
in 1832. Copeland & Pratt, M. C. She was built for William 
Fay, of Boston, was used in the liquor trade and lost while in 
said trade. Mr. Fay sent down a quantity of liquor wdien she 
was launched, and the Rev. David Barnes Ford, remembers 
dealing it out. He was probably obliged to do this, for we 
cannot imagine his doing such a thing at the present day. 
Some verses were written concerning this vessel of which only 
the following lines have been preserved : — 

One day it chanced to cross my roving thought 
That James and I would take a walk, 
Down to the ship yard we would go, 
There was a lady for a show. 

Mary Ballard was her name. 

If to the ship yard you would go. 
Take care and not be climbing so. 

Joseph C. and Samuel Tolman, Jr., did the joiner work on 
the "Mary Ballard." George B. Tolman, son of Elisha, who 
was a descendant of Charles, fell from a staging on board the 
"Mary Ballard" and was injured. When lost the "Mary 
Ballard " was owned by John H. Pierson ; she was cast away on 
the Bahamas in the spring of 1843, loaded with ice for the Gulf 
of Mexico. In 1832 this firm sold out to Thomas Waterman 
and Joseph S. Bates. Water7na7i & Bates began to dig for a 
yard a little way up river, by the swimming place above 





138 WATERMAN & BATES. 

the southwesterly slope of Fox Hill. While enijaged pre- 
paring to locate here, Copeland & Ford decided to go out of 
business, and sold their yard to Waterman & Bates, who built 
in company three years, or until 1836, when Mr. Bates retn-ed 
from the tirm. 

was l)oni in 
1791, and 

?^^rP?7^ JJayf^/^^/7/^^J^/ agrdTevent; 

years. His 

father, Thomas, born 1765, was grandson of 

Thomas of Marshfield, and son of / rty > (Jv- Capt. An- 
thony, who came from Marshfield in ^ 0^ / 1760. Capt. 
Thomas Waterman resided east of the brook, at the ancient 
Copeland place. He had two children : Thomas B., who mar. 
Clara Crooker of Norwell,and succeeded his father at the yard, 
and Sylvia, who d. in August, 1844. Thomas B. has had two 
children: 1. Thomas W.,born May 4, 1868, a noble fellow, 
who was taken from them by typhoid fever in the fall of 1888, 
just as he was attaining manhood ; 2. George, born Oct. 30, 
1870, now in a bank in Boston. Josej)h S. Bates was a descend- 
ant of Caleb, of Hingham, through Comfort of Pemliroke,in 
which town he was born. He served his time with Col. J. B. 
Barstow and mar. his dau., Sarah, Oct. 2, 1820. They lived 
on Broadway, northeast of Hanover Four Corners, and had three 

children : 1. Henry S., 1). Nov., 1821, mar. 1st, Gardner,, 

2nd, in 1888,]Mrs. Emeline Sylvester. 2. Sarah Ann, b. Nov., 
1823. 3. John Burden, b. Feb. 17, 1826, who mar. Lydia 
Waterman, and lives corner of Rockland street, next to the 
Episcopal Church at the Four Comers. 

The first year Waterman & Bates built two vessels, as follows, 
viz : 1833, ship "IHLO," 390 tons, of New York, the largest 
vessel ever built at tit is yard, and which is said to have cost 
$1000 to get out of the river. She was used as a Avhaler. 
1833, ship "ONTARIO," 367 tons, of Sag Harbor. Her 
length was 108 feet, breadth 27 feet, depth 13 feet. She after- 
ward hailed from New Bedford. They built in 1835 the brig 
"ALMINA," 175 tons, of Boston, a fruiter, used in the Medi- 
terranean trade, and in 1836 the sch. "RIENZI," 108 tons, of 
Boston. The "Rienzi," was captuved and burned at sea by a 
rebel privateer in 1863. This was the last vessel built by 
Waterman & Bates. 



CAPT. THOMAS WATERMAN. 139 

Capt. "Waterman carried on the business alone until 1846. 
The first vessel he built after ^Ir. Bates retired was the next 
year, 1837, the brig " VINTAGE," 199 tons, of Boston, a 
fruiter used in the Mediterranean trade, Thomas Waterman, 
M. C, and in 1838 the brig"OTHO," 132 tons, of Boston, 
Thomas Waterman, M. C, and in 1840, sch. " LAKE," 99 
tons, owners: George M. Allen, Eaton Vinal, Thomas L. 
Manson, John ]\Innson and Thomas Waterman, of Scituate, who 
built her. The " Lake," was conmianded by Capt. Vinal in the 
West Lidia logwood trade, etc., and during her second or third 
voyage she ran otf Maguena Reef, near Crooked Passage, and 
was totally wrecked. "Rebuilt in 1841 bark "WAVE," 197 
tons, owned by Nathaniel H. Emmons, George W. Wales,. 
Thomas B. Wales, Sr., and Jr., and Samuel Quincy of Boston. 
Thomas B. AVales had a son, Thomas B., whom he wished to 
send to sea, probably thinking this to be the most advantageous 
way of starting him in a mercantile life. To induce him to go 
he had this bark built and fitted up Avith fancy cabins, and 
expense was not spared to make it an attractive and comfortable 
vessel. As a further inducement he put his son in as captain, 
but as he had never been to sea before it Avas necessary to have 
for the first mate an experienced "old salt; " so Capt. Winsor 
went as first mate on her firsl; voyage, which was to be aj-ound 
Cape Horn to the Northwest coast, trading. It was the custom 
in those days for the Captain to stay below, leaving his mate in 
charge of the ship, and it is fair to presume that Capt. Wales let 
the mate run the ship most of the time. The " Wave " })robably 
did not go to the Northwest coast, and young Wales may have 
disappointed his father and never have gone in her, but the 
aliove is the story as told the author. The bark " WaA-e " in 1 841 
made a voyage from Boston to Rochelle ; in 1842, Rochelle to 
Boston with brandy, fruit, etc. , and Norfolk, Va. , to Rochelle with 
staves, &c. In 1843 from Rio de Janeiro with coflee, and from New 
Bedford to Cowerand with 288 casks, 447 gross gallons of oil and 
10 tons of logwood. In 1843-4, Norfolk to Rochelle and back 
again with potash, rice, staves, &c. In 1884 she was owned in 
New Bedford, then 42 years old. At this vard was built in 
1842 the sch. "MANSON," 93 tons, owners Vieorge M. Allen, 
Moses R. Colman, John, Thomas L. and Joel L. Manson, 
Eaton Vinal, the builder Thomas Waterman, and Michael 
Ford, Scituate. The "Manson" was commanded l)y Capt. 
IMoses Coleman and ran between Boston and Venezuela, taking 
out mixed' cargoes and bringing back goat skins. The last 



140 BARSTOW & "WATERMAN. 

vessel built by Capt. AVaterman alone at this yard was in 1845, 
the sch. "ST. PAI'L," 94 tons, of Boston. 'Owned by (^apt. 
John Cushinir ot" Hanover and "William H. Talbot, of Scituate. 
The "St. Paul," Avas commanded by "Capt. Bill Talbot "and 
used in the coastini»; trade in the Gulf of INIexico. AVilliam 
Chirk of Hanover was one of the crew of three that went before 
the mast on the tirst voya«re of the " St. Paul." They went to 
]Matanzas and New Orleans with oeneral cariro and brought 
back molasses, sui>ar, etc. She was rinallv lost. 



who 


WJ 

> t 


is at 


U^-^ ^^''- 


im e 


b u 1 


Id 


ing 


in 


the 


old 



Barstow Yard back of Edmund Q. Sylvester's in Hanover was 
approached in 184() by George ]\I. Allen of Scituate Harbor 
with a proposition to build for him a vessel of 250 tons, but on 
account of the great expense necessary to get the vessels over 
the shoals below his yard, which would consume the small 
profits of those days, Capt. Barstow decided it Avould not pay 
to build the vessel at his yard, and therefore invited Capt. 
Waterman to build her in company at hin, Cajit. AVaterman's, 
yard. He accepted and they began their partnership, which 
lasted until 1859, when Thomas B. Waterman succeeded his 
father, and in company with Capt. Barstow, built until 1869, 
when was built the last vessel at this yard. Capt. Barstow now 
l)ecame the master carpenter. The first vessel built by the new 
firm was the bark " TOM COR WIN," 250 tons, launched in 
1847, and owned by Joel L., John and Thomas L. Manson, 
George INI. and William P. Allen, of Scituate Harbor, and 
commanded by Capt. John Alanson. Charles Le Roy, of So. Scit- 
uate, went in her on her first voyage to St. Petersburg, Russia, 
in the spring of 1847. In 1859 she was owned by Elisha 
Atkins, at Boston, and was lost when an old vessel. 

Capt. John Manson, her conmiander, was born in 1805 at 
Scituate Harbor, where he deceased July 14, 1889. In 1815 he 
went with his father mackerel fishing in the "Rosebud." In 
1812-13 the British frigate "Xymph," and the British 74 
"La Hogue," sent their boats into Scituate Harbor from 
time to time and burned or carried ofi' the vessels there. Capt. 
JNIanson remembers once when a fleet of these boats were com- 
ing in, that the women began to carry ofi* their beds and furni- 
ture, but an officer in one of the I'ritish l)oats cried out, "Good 



CAPT. JOHN MANSON. 141 

women don't cany your liecls off, we ain't going to hurt you." 
At this time the "Rosebud," which belonged to the elder 
Manson, the "Orient," and the "Sophronia" were car- 
ried off, and five or six other vessels were burned in the 
Harbor. The British returned the " Rosebud," which was 
finally sold to Maine. The "Orient" they kept, and the 
master of the "Sophronia," which was loaded with hay, went on 
board the man of Avar and induced them to give her up and 
let him take her back to the Harbor. Caj^t. Manson commanded 
first the sch. "James Otis," built in Pembroke, and about 
1830-1 the "Mary," built in Kenncbunk ; later the sch. 
"Abigail," built by Magoun & Turner in Brooklyn about 
1834, afterward the Her. Brig "Allen," the bark "Tom 
Corwin," and the ship "William Sturgis," built in Med- 
ford, all used in the New Orleans and European trade, and 
in 1851-4 the ship "Meridian," built by Jackson & Ewell, 
East Boston, 1740 tons, new measurement. This was the 
largest vessel then afloat. He commanded the ship " George 
Peabody " to Europe from Mobile and New Orleans and back 
from Liverpool with emigrants. He brought the Hum- 
boldts from Norfolk to Baltimore in 1857 and from 1858 
to the end of his sea life in 18(31 he made three voyages in the 
ship "Golden Fleece," (built l)y Paul Curtis at East Bos- 
ton,) to San Francisco. He retired from the sea in 1861 
on account of the war. It is remarkable that Capt. Manson 
never met with any accident except to carry away some small 
spar or lose a man overboard. During the later part of his .sea 
going he sailed for AVm. F. AVeld & Co. He superintended the 
laying of the keel for the first vessel they ever built. Before 
sailing for them he always sailed for himself. In one voyage 
to New Orleans and back he cleared for the Welds $60,000, 
and while in the jNIeridian she paid for herself and $27,000 
surplus in three voyages. 

Barstow c& Waterman built in 1848 the bark "ZION," 199 
tons, of Boston, owned in 1859 by Pierson and under Capt. 
Reynold, a part owner. They had on the stocks at the same 
time, in 1848, the brig " ABRAM," 158 tons, owned by Moses R. 
Coleman, George M. Allen, Michael Ford and Thomas Water- 
man, of Scituate. She took the place of the " Manson " in 
the Venezuela trade and was built of oak, copper and iron 
fastened and owned in 1861 by Vose, Livingston & Co., New 
York. In 1849 they built two vessels. 1849 bark " ADELIA 
ROGERS," 199 tons, of Boston, owned in 1861 by Taylor & 



142 BARSTOW & -WATERMAN. 

others ; Capt. Snow. This vessef was, in her registers, 
sometimes called the ^^ Adelaide Hogers.^^ She was com- 
manded by Capt. George Taylor, of Chatham, and was after- 
wards lost on the Southern Coast. They built the sch. 
"ROBERT RAIKES," in 1849, 81 tons, oak, iron and copper 
fastened, single bottom, owned in 1874 by E. & E. K. Cook, 
of Provincetown, and used as a fishing vessel. Capt. T. J. 
Coorigan. Capt. Swift, the largest owner, had this vessel 
named the " Robert Raikes " because of his strong sympathy 
w^ith this o-reat Methodist. In 1850 they built the brig 
" SARAH," '^1()5 tons, for Capt. Moses Coleman, of Scituate, 
who used her in the AVest India trade. The sch. " ANTARTIC," 
was built here in 1851, 101 tons, of oak, iron and copper 
fastened, single bottom, whaler. In 1872 she was owned by J. 
E. & G. Bowley, of Provincetown, Capt. Hill. In 1884 she 
was at Provincetown and still whaling. She was on her way 
down North River when Minot's lioht was blown over. The 
same year they built the sch. "JOSHUA E. BOWLEY," 95 
tons, owned in 1884 at Provincetown, Mass. In 1852 they 
built, on owner's account, the Her. Brig "KERNISAN," 127 
tons, and sold to William F. Weld. Owned in Boston by N. 
J. Weld, in 1859, deck cabin. It is reported that she was lost 
with all on board on a voyage to the AVest Indies. Also the 
sch. "SEA DRIFT," 99 tons, oak, iron and copper fastened, 
built by them in 1852, owned in 1805 in Scituate. They built 
the sch. " A^7LLIAM INIARTIN," in 1854, which is registered at 
some ports as having been built in Hanover, but this mistake is 
easily explained. The builder's address was Hanover, and the 
owners in registering naturally thought the vessels were built 
in Hanover, l)ut this mistake in registry has been corrected 
wherever found. The sch. "William Martin," built by them in 
1854, was 130 tons, flush deck, was owned in 1859 by William 
Martin, of Orleans, Mass. Built of oak and hackmatack. 
Iron and copper fastened. Sheathed with zinc in Oct., 1867. 
In 1862 she was transferred from Orleans to Boston and sent 
whaling in the Atlantic. On July 6, 1889, the "William 
Martin," under Capt. Howard, arrived in Boston from a 25 
months' whaling voyage in the Atlantic with sperm oil to 
Heman Smith. She landed 100 bbls. at Fayal, during the 
voyage, and since Jan. 20, 1889, at which time she sailed from 
Dominia, she has got 60 bbls. of sperm oil. In 1855 the firm 
built the sch. "N. & H. GOULD," for Capt. Gould, who was 
drowned off Philadelphia while trying to save a man who had 




ScH. "William Martin." 
Built by Barstow & Waterman. 



BARSTOAV & WATERMAN. 143 

fallen overboard. Just as he was going down he held up his 
pocket book, then sank. Capt Gould used this vessel as a 
freighter. In 1863 she was owned by Yates, Potterfield & Co. 
of Orleans, Mass., and in 1<SG5 by Eben Sears of Dennis, and 
sailing under Capt Crowell. The sch. "N. & H. Gould," was 
142 tons, 91 feet long, 2.") feet broad. Draft 10 feet. Built of 
oak, iron and copper fastened, single bottom. Owned in 1876 
by Eben Sears, Boston, Capt. Baker, master. The last 
vessel built by Capt. AN'aterman and Capt. Barstow in company 
was in 1856, the brig ^' SPRIGHT," {ov'' Sprite,") 200 tons, 
used in So. American trade l^y Lifkin &, Ironside, N. Y. She 
was owned in 1865 by C. W. Swift, New York. 

No more vessels were built here until 1859. This year Capt. 
Waterman's son succeeded to his share of the business, and the 
same year, 1859, the new firm of Capt. Elijah Barstoio and 
Thomas B. Waterman launched the Sch. "ImARY GREEN- 
ISH," 140 tons ; oak, copper and iron fastened ; rider keelsons ; 
owned in 1865 by Fairbanks & Adams, Boston; Capt. J. 
Greenish. This vessel was named after the Captain's wife. 
The next vessel they built was the Sch. ''ABBIE BRAD- 
FORD," built in September, 1860. She was 114 tons, 87 feet 
long, 23 feet T)road ; built of oak, iron and copper fastened, 
and was yellow metalled in September, 1866. In 1872 she 
was owned l)y Macey & Co., Nantucket ; Capt. A. Baker. She 
was originally commanded by Capt. Ezra Freeman, of Sand- 
wich. She was named after the Captain's daughter, Abbie Brad- 
ford Freeman, and had for a figure-head the full statue of a 
little girl. She was one of the first vessels captured by the 
Confederate privateer "Alabama," Capt. Semmes, v.hile on her 
way to the West Indies. He bonded her and let her go. In 
1872, Jonathan Bourne, of New Bedford, bought the "Abbie 
Bradford," and sent her eight voyages to Hudson's Bay, whaling. 
On her last voyage, in 1587, she came out of the Bay in Sep- 
tember, went South, and was badly wrecked in a gale in De- 
cember, obliging her to put into the port of Santos, Brazil, 
where she was condemned and sold in January, 1888. j\Ir. 
Bourne owned her sixteen years. The next vessel was the 
Her. Brig " FALCON," 128 tons, built 1862, of oak ; iron and 
copper fastened ; yellow metalled in 1870 ; owned in 1874 by 
N. P. ISLinn & Co., Boston, and used whaling. J. C. Osgood, 
of Salem, for whom the "Falcon" was built, sold her in 1871 
to N. P. Mann & Co., and she was sold by them to Capt. C. B. 



144 VESSELS BUILT BY BARSTOW & WATERMAN. 

Graves and Fowle & Carroll, Boston, for the "We^t India trade 
in 1874. Capt. Graves commanded her for four voyages, then left 
her on account of sickness, and C'apt. Jordan Cody took her to 
San Domingo. On her homeward passage she was struck by a 
hurricane between Hayti and Cuba. They had to cut away the 
masts, and, after the storm, they put up jury-masts and reached 
Port Jago, Cuba, where slie was condemned and sohl for a coal 
hulk. In 1863, Barstow & Waterman built the Her. Brig 
"SALINAS,'' 150 tons ; oak, iron and copper fastened ; yellow 
metalled in Noveml)er, 1879. She was owned in 1872 by Cart- 
wright (& Harrison, Bermuda, and was sailing under the British 
flag. About 1875 her name was changed to ''Warren,'^ and 
she was owned by Cartwright, Harrison & Co., Barbadoes. 
The next year they built a vessel which cleared for her owners, 
at the end of a ten months' whaling voyage, $14,000. This 
wastheSch. " SUSAN N. SMITH," built in 18G4 for Heman 
Smith. The " Susan N. Smith " was of 150 tons. While on a 
whaling voyage in the Atlantic she was reported lost Aug. 28, 
1869, with the Captain's wife, Mrs. Rounseville, two children, 
the first and second mate, boat-steerers, and thirteen of the 
crew. She had one hundred and eighty barrels of sperm oil. 
In the fall of the same year they launched a sister vessel to the 
" Susan N. Smith," though she was a little smaller. This was 
the Sch. "LOUISA A..'," 122 tons, built for a whaler, owned 
by Heman Smith, Boston, in 1875, commanded by Capt. Kelly. 
She was lost on a reef near Florida about 1883. The next 
year they built a coaler for Capt. Edwin Barstow. This was 
the Sch. "PINTA," built in 1865, 207 tons, drawing 12 feet; 
oak, iron and copper fastened ; yellow metalled January, 1868 ; 
owned in 1872 by E. W. Barstow^ ; Capt. J. H. Smith^ master. 
In 1875 she was owned by Capt. Small and others, at Pem- 
broke, Me., and used as a fisherman. They next built for 
Heman Smith a vessel, the Hermaphrodite Brig "HEMAN 
SMITH," 123 tons, built in April, 1866 ; oak, iron and copper 
fastened ; yellow metalled in 1869. She was a whaler, and 
owned in 1872 by Heman Smith and others, Boston ; Capt. W. 
Martin. In 1877 she was still whaling in the Atlantic, and in 
1884 owned in Boston. She was condemned in 1886, at St. 
Michael's, though then a good vessel. In 1866 a whaling brig 
was built on the owners' account, and sold in 1868 to Province- 
town parties, which year she first got her register. This was 
the Her. Brig "LIZZIE J. BIGELOW," 150 tons, draft 12 
feet ; oak, iron and copper fastened ; yellow metalled in October, 




Hek. Brig "Lizzie J. Bigelow," 150 tons. 
Built in 1868, by Barstow & Waterman, at Fox (or Sunset) Hill Yard. 



VESSELS BUILT BY BARSTOW & WATERMAX. 145 

1871. In 1872, used as a whaler in Province'town, Mass., 
by B. A. Lewis, Capt. Josiali C'ook. The brig "Lizzie J. Bige- 
low" was owned l)y C. E. & B. IL Fabens, of Salem, for about 
ten years. She was bought ]\Iarch 4, 1873, of C. G. & G. E. 
Ryder, for $9500, and foundered at sea in 1885, the crew being 
taken off by a Scotch bark. An account from a daily paper at 
that ime savs : 



" The crew of the ' Lizzie J. Bigelow,' which was abandoned at sea Feb. 
12, 1885, were rescued by Capt. Lawson, of the bark 'Messina.' The 
'Lizzie J. Bigelow' sailed from St. Martins, Jan. 28, and about seven 
o'clock that night, when eight miles northwest of Sombrero Light, James 
Dawcett, a Nova Scotia seaman, fell overboard from aloft, and was drowned. 
On Feb. 5, a heavy westerly gale set in, pumps had to be manned every 
half hour ; the gale increased a little every day, and on the 10th blew with 
great violence ; a heavy sea ran dangerously high, and sharp lightning ap- 
peared on the eve of the 12th. At nine o'clock a vessel's light was sighted. 
The ' Bigelow ' was leaking so badly that they made signals of distress, 
and were taken otf with great diflBculty." 

In the fall of 1800, Barstow & Waterman commenced a new 
vessel, which was launched in the spring of the following year. 
She was built a whaler, for Heman Smith, and Capt. Charles 
Stetson, of Kingston, went master of her. This was the Her. 
Brig "KOSA BAKER," 109 tons, launched in May, 18G7 ; oak, 
iron and copper fastened; yellow metalled Octol)er, 1871. 
She was Avhaling in the Atlantic from 1807 to 1877, and in 18(19 
or 1872 was sold to Jonathan Bourne, Jr., of New Bedford, 
and went to Hudson's Bay, whaling. On Sept. 5, 1874, the 
first mate and boat's crew were lost in the ice in Hudson's Bay. 
In August, 1889, she was owned in Boston, and lying at Ka- 
tional Wharf, East Boston. She is registered at some ports as 
the "Rosa Barker,''^ which is a mistake, as she was named after 
Rosa, dauirhter of Joshua Baker. In 1869 Avas launched the 
Sch. "HOPE ON," the Jast vessel built by this firm, the last 
vessel built on this yard, and next to the last vessel built on 
North River. She was built on the owners' account, and was a 
great loss to her builders. There was no demand for vessels 
when she was launched, and it was nearly two years before she 
was sold. For this reason she has often been registered as hav- 
ing been built in 1871. This vessel, the Sch. "Hope On," was 
191 tons burthen, 100 feet long, 24 feet broad, draft 11 feet: 
white oak and yellow pine, iron and copper fastened, single 
I)ottom ; owned in 187G by Edwin Barstow & Son, of Boston : 
Capt. L. Chase, conmiander. She was rated as having been 



146 LAST VESSEL BUILT " UP RIVER." 

1 -U first class In 1877 she was sold to J. T. Richardson of 

s ^^iTand ^^^^::^t^i;.^^ 

A. Baker. She was latei .old to pi tic ^^^^ 

vessel built by them. 



CHAPTER X. 



BRICK KILN YARD.— 1 730-1807. 



CAPT. BENJAMIN TURNER, CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS, SR., CAPT. 
ICHABOD THOMAS, JR., CALVIN TURNER. 



TT is impossible to say when vessels were first built at this 
-*■ yard, but records have been found of quite a number of 
ships built in Duxbury in early times, and some of them were 
prol)ably built here, as at that time Pembroke was a part of 
Duxbury. The Indian name of Duxbury was Mattakeeset, but 
the western part of what is now Pembroke was generally called 
Namassakeeset. Pembroke was set off by itself, and incorpo- 
rated as a town, in 1711-12, and the first mention of the new 
town in the newspapers was the same year : 

" Pembroke, Dec. 6th, 1711-12. Last Wednesday, the Rev. Mr. Daniel 
Lewis was ordained Pastor of the Chui'ch in this place. — Boston News 
Letter^ 

Ship-building was probably flourishing on the river front at 
that time, but the first record we have is in 1730, when Copt. 
Benj. Turner, Captain of a Troop of Horse, came to Pemlu'oke, 
and built at the Brick Kilns. Many of the most noted ship- 
builders were apprenticed to him, and his descendants for sev- 
eral generations carried on the art at the Brick Kilns and other 
yards.* The Thomases, Briggses, and Turners were the most 
prominent builders. 

Ichabod TJiomas learned his trade of Capt. Benj. Turner, 
and he proved himself to be an ap})rentice Avorthy of his in- 
structor. He descended from John Thomas, who came to New 
England, a passenger from Wales, in the ship "Hopewell,'* 



* See Turner and Bridge Yards, and Fox Hill Yard. 



148 JOHN THOMAS, THE COMMON ANCESTOE. 

Thomas Babb, nuster, arnving Sept. 11, lOo'), then fourteen 
years of age. Tradition says he was an orphan, whose i)ro{)erty 
had been lost through poor investments by those who had it in 
charge. He was reared by Gov. Edward Winslow, at Cares- 
well, Eng., and settled in Marshfield, on a farm given by Gov. 
Winslow, for the better accommodation of a neighl)orhood, 
from his own grant. This farm became, in later years, the 
home of the distinguished singer, Adelaide Phillips. John 
Thomas mar. Sarah, the dau. of James and Sarah Pitney, Dec. 
•2\, 1648. His name is next to the AVinslows on the lirst list 
of those who l)ore arms in Plymouth, INIass. They had : 

1. John, born Nov. 16, 1649, mar. Sarah . He was 

drowned May 24, 1699. His widow became the second wife 
of Dea. John Foster, and d. May 26, 1731. 2. Elizabeth, 
b. Sept. 12, 1652, probably died unmarried. 3. SanmeJ, b. 
Nov. 6, 1655 ; mar. INIercy, dau, of Dea. Wm. Ford, May 27, 
1680. 4. Daniel, b. Nov. 20, 1()59 ; mar. Experience, dau. of 
Thomas Tilden, 1698. 5. Sarah, b. Sept. 20, 1661 ; mar. Benj. 
Phillips, 1680. 6. James, b. Nov. 30, 1663 ; mar. Mary, dau. 
of Stephen Tilden, in 1700. He settled in the north section 
of Duxbury, and left numerous descendants in Connecticut, and 
also in the Western States. 7. Ephraim, b. Oct., 1667; re- 
moved to Little Compton, K.I. 8. Israel, b. 1670; mar. 
Bethiah Sherman, dau. of John and Jane Hatch Sherman, 
1698. 

Samuel (second son of the ancestor, John), and his wife, 
Mercy Ford,* had children: 1. Bethiah, b. Jan. 25, 1681; 
mar. Samuel Sprague, and settled in Duxbury. 2. John, b. 
Nov. 8, 1683; mar. Lydia, dau. of Josh. AVaterman. 3. Sam- 
uel, b. Dec. 7, 1685; mav. Rebecca Howland. 4. JV^cifhan, 
b. Nov. 21, 1688; mar. first, Alice Baker; second, Abiah 
Snow; and third, Sarah B., dau. of Dea. John Foster, of 

Plymouth. 5. Sarah, b. ; mar. John Holmes, Sept. 8, 

1720, and lived one hundred years. 6. Joseph, b. 1690 ; mar. 
Lydia AVinslow, 1718 ; d. Jan. 27, 1754, aged sixty-eight. 7. 
Gideon, 1). 1692 ; mar. Abigail Baker ; loft no sons, but daugh- 
ters : Mercy, wife of B. White ; Sarah, wife of Jeremiah Low ; 
and Eleanor, wife of Elijah Ford. Abigail, his dau., mar. Dr. 
Eleazer Harlow, of Duxbury ; d. young, leaving one, son, Gid- 
eon Thomas, who was reared by his maternal STrandfather. 8, 



* Samuel died Sept. 2, 1720 ; his widow, Sept., 1741. 



MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN THOMAS. 149 

Ann, baptized April K), 1727. 0. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 28, 
1729. 10. Josiah, baptized March 1(), 1G9'S ; mar. Delmrah 
Bartlett, and settled near Standish Hill, Duxbuiy. They Avere 
ancestors of Dr. Stevens, physician, of So. Marshfield. Gid- 
eon Thomas d. 1766, aged seventy-four; Aliiofail, wife of Gid- 
eon, d. Sept. 15, 1753, aged fifty-two ; Abigail, wife of Eleazer 
Harlow, d. Nov., 1743, aged twenty years, ten months, and 
twenty days, leaving Gideon, above named. 

John, son of Samuel and Mercy Thomas, succeeded to the 
ancestral home, and mar. Lydia, dau. of Joseph and Sarah 
Waterman, Dec. 23, 1714, and d. Jan., 1769, aged eighty-six. 
She d. Jan. 17, 1750. They had children : 1. Zeruiah, b. Oct. 
3, 1715 ; mar. James Bradford, of Connecticut. 2. Ann, b. 
April 5, 1717; d. 1723. 3. Anthony, b. March 25, 1719; 
mar. Abigail Alden, of Duxbury. 4. Lydia, b. March, 1721 ; 
mar. Joseph Kent, Feb. 28, 1743. 5. John, b. Nov. 9, 1724 ; 
mar. Hannah Thomas, dau. of Nathaniel Thomas. Said John 
became a IVIajor General, and died in the American Revolu- 
tionary War. He was a cousin of Ichabod, Sr., and at the 
age of twenty-one was Surgeon in a regiment sent to Annapo- 
lis, Royal. At twenty-two, he was on the medical staft'of Gov. 
Shirley's Regiment. In the year 1759, he was ap})ointed a 
Colonel, and re-appointed to the same ofiice in 1760, by Gov. 
Pownall. In 1760, wdth his regiment, he joined the Anglo- 
American army at Crown Point. After he returned from this 
expedition. Col. Thomas continued in his profession as phy- 
sician, at Kingston, until 1775, where tlie Revolution found 
him. He was again called to the front, into active service, Feb. 
9, 1775. Not long after this. Gen. Thomas became piqued 
because another officer was promoted above him, which was 
acknowledged unfair and unjust by all excepting Con- 
gress. James Warren, the Speaker of the House, urged his 
remaininof. Gen. Charles Lee wrote to him : 

" I have myself, sir, full as great, perhaps greater, reason to com- 
plain than yourself. I have passed through the highest ranks, in 
some of the most respectable services of Europe. You think your- 
self not justly dealt with in the appointments of the Continental 
Congress. I am quite of the same opinion. For the sake of every- 
thing that is dear, and ought to be dear, to you, for the sake of your 
country, and of yourself, discard such sentiments." 

Gen. Georire Washiuijton wrote to Gen. Thomas from 



150 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN THOMAS. 

Cambridfre under date July 23rd, 1775, a very lengthy letter, 
from which the few following extracts are made : 

" Sir : The retirement of a general officer, possessing the confidence 
of his country and the army at so critical a period, appears to me to 
be big with fatal consequences, both to the public cause and his own 
reputation. While it is unexecuted, I think it my duty to make 
this last eflbrt to prevent it, and after suggesting those reasons which 
occur to me against your resignation, your own virtue and good 
sense must decide upon it." * * * * "You possess the confidence 
and the afiection of the troops, of this province particularly: many of 
them are not capable of judging the propriety and reason of your 
conduct : should they esteem themselves authorized, by your exam- 
ple to leave the service, the consequences may be fatal and irretriev- 
able." * * * * " I shall flatter myself that these reasons with others 
which your own good judgment will suggest, will strengthen your 
mind against those impressions which are incident to humanity, and 
laudable to a certain degree : and that the result will be your resolu- 
tion to assist your country in this day of distress. That you may 
reap the full reward of honor and public esteem, which such a con- 
duct deserves, is the sincere w^ish of Sir, your very obedient and 
most humble servant, 

George Washington." 

" To Gen. John Thomas." 

Gen. Thomas was restored to rank and command, and had 
all the resolves, letters, and addresses proved unavailing, and 
the Continental Congress not have restored liim, he nmst have 
been much more or much less than a man. The field officers 
encamped at Roxbury, addressed him July 25th, 1775, to this 
effect : 

"Your appointment as Lieut. Gen'l. by the Provincial Congress,, 
in consequence of which you took supreme command of this camp, 
gave singular satisfaction to all acquainted with your character, your 
knowledge and experience of military movement, and your vigilance, 
prudence and skill." 

From this time to INIarch, 1776, Gen. Thomas commanded 
the most exposed camp of the besieging army at Roxbury. 
Having determined upon the occupation of Dorchester Heights, 
a step which would bring on an action or produce the evacua- 
ation of Boston by the British Army, on jNIonday the 4th of 
March, these Heights were taken possession of l)y Gen. 
Thomas. The amount of labor performed during the night, 
considering that the earth was frozen eighteen inches deep, was 
almost incredible. Gen. Thomas writes in a letter to his wife,, 
dated from : 



MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN THOMAS. 151 

" Dorchester Hills, in a small hut, March 9, 1776. 

We have for some time been preparing to take possession of 
Dorchester Point, and last Monday night about 7 o'clock I marched 
with about 3,000 picked men, beside 360 ox teams and some pieces 
of artillery. About 8 o'clock we ascended the high hills, and by 
daylight, got two hills defensible. About sunrise the enemy and 
others in Boston, appeared numerous on the tops of houses, and on 
the wharves, viewing us with astonishment. The cannonading which 
Iiad been kept up all night, from our lines at Lamb's Dam and from 
the enemy's lines likewise at Lechmere's Point, now ceased and the 
enemy tvu'ned their fire toward us, but they soon found it was to 
little effect." ****"! have had very little sleep or rest this week, 
being closely employed night and day." * * * * "Your son John 
is well and in high spirits. He ran away from Oakley privately on 
Tuesday morning, and got by the sentrys and came to me, on Dor- 
chester Hills, where he has been most of the time since. 

Jno. Thomas." 

Mrs. Thomas's disobedient son, John, had been left by his 
father on Monday evening, when he marched for Dorchester 
Heights, in care of his colored servant Oakley, who, no doubt, 
was instructed to keep him from mischief and danger, he being 
but ten years old. Gen. Thomas's cousin, William, was also 
with him at Dorchester Heights. William held a commission 
as Capt. of 1st Military Co. foot, of INIarshfield, under Thos. 
Hutchinson, Gov. Mass. Bay, 1772. To his descendant. Miss 
Sarah Thomas, of Marshfield, I am indebted for much valuable 
information concerning the Thomas family. 

About this time Congress was looking for an officer to com- 
mand the troops led into Canada by Montgomery and Arnold, 
and having been cautioned by AVashington not to appoint a major 
general, whom he named to them, for that purpose the}^ on the 
(jth of March promoted Gen. Thomas to the rank of Major 
General and sent him to command in Canada. John Adams 
wrote to him the next day, and from his letter the following is 
taken : 

" Dear Sir : The Congress have determined to send you to Canada. 
They have advanced you one step by making you a Major General. 
Your friends, the delegates from your native province were much 
embarassed between a desire to have you promoted and placed in so 
honorable a command on the one hand and a reluctance at losing 
your services at Roxbury, or Cambridge on the other." 



1,">"J lllOMAS (,.r.NKAl.Oi;Y. 

ThiiN (mmk riu>ni:i>. I'lillotl tVoiu lii> pnnul position ;it Por- 
I'lio^ttM'. \v;is proinolt^l -Aud :ipi>oint<\l to a nu>io f\lousi\t^ and 
intporlant nnnnh-uul «>f an oxju-dilion whioli piovoil disastrous 
to his oountfv anil tatal to hinisoll'. AIUm- ivai-hinir his }H>sition 
iioar Quol>or. iv-onl"oivoiniM\ts and pi\>visions tor thr army 
faiUHl to ani\o. Init (lon. 'lMu>n\as was i'otvn'ininod to rolain 
hi> po>-ition as lon^' as possible, hrarinu' that laim^ iv-cMit\>ivo- 
i\ionls wiMo passinu' tho lako and nui^ht l>o daily oxjHH'tod. 
'V\w ii>-ont'orotMnonls not ani\ inir. as his adviros indnood him lo 
hopi\ and tlu^ onomy ad\ anting" in t'.>ivo. ho >vas ohligod io 
lotroat to Sorol. Ou tho »nd ol' .Tnno at OhamMoo, on tho 
ri\orSoiol. whiK' an\!ou>ly awaitinu' tlio oxpoolod iv-ont\nvo- 
niiMits. ho dit^l ot' tho small-pi^x. ajiod .">!' yoars. Tho disoaso 
was so inaliii'nant that ho was ontiroly Mind somo days bot'iuo 
his doa\h. Puvinii' his oourso o( pvotossional lit'o ho had boon 
nnoiMimu>nly >lvill'nl in its troatmont, hut havl uo\ortakon it by 
inoooulatiiu\ tn' othorwiso. In poisi>n ho was six loot high, 
oiiH't auvl wcW pri^pin'tiouod. appoaraiioo oonnuandinii- and with 
mannors allablo. giMUlomanly and of unall'ootod sinoority. llo 
was suoooodtnl by (lon. Linooln. 

Sanih, s/.iV// ohild o( .lohn and Lydia. was b. N\n. o, l7"Jt>: 
mar. fliMvmiah Kinsman. o\ Norwioh. C'oun. 7. Koziah, b. 
No\. 7. 17;>0: d. Poo. 11. 17,M. 

Xof/inn T/iOinim. a tannor by trade, mar. Alioo Ivikor. ^laroh 
4. 17l.'>, who d. ,luno 1, 171.^. agod twouty-ti\o. Ho mar. 
lM\vUy. Abiah. dau. o( .losiah Stiow, dan. '2, 17l«>: sho d. Fob. 
1. 17fS. agod twonty-l'our. llo m.ar. orally . Sarah Fv^stor. vlau. 
ot' Ooa. dv^hn Fostor, o( Flymouth. and gr. dau. ot' Poa. dohn 
Fostor. o( Marshtlold. k^/k' mar. l^ully. .lododiah Inuirno. 
and d. Fob.. I77v'^. agod oighty-two. Nathan d. Nov. ;>. 1741. 
in hi.i tifty-thivvl yo.ar. llo had ohildron : 1. Sarah. i>. Poo. 
\'2, 17iH>: d. whilo visitiniT hor sistor. Mrs. Phillips, at Uosion. 
and was buriod thoro. i*. Alioo. b. Ooo. -,'>. 17i*« : mar. C'api. 
IVnj. riullips. ol* Boston. Nov. \u, 17 4o. Thov lived on Fort 
Hill, auvl had ot\o ohild. Alioo. bon\ tho following voar. Dr. 
Winslow Lewis. o\' WoMon. was a desoendant of Alivv and 
l>eni. Phillips, o. AVilli.am. b. d.an. ol. 17^7: mar. tii-st. 
Mary. dan. o( Abmham Hill. o\' Maiden: sooond. Abiah. ilau. 
i>f r.apt. dames Thomas, of Ouxbury. Mareh 11. 17r>4. 4. 
Nathat\. b. .Vug. oO. 17o0: mar. Sandi, dau. of IVa. dodediah 
Uonrno. Nov.. 17.">(>. r>. fchafkhh l>. dmio i8. 173»^, in a house 
that stiwl on tho site and oollar of tho present ivsidonoe oi 



CAPT. ICHABOD TIIO.MAS. 153 

Luthor Thomas, the first house on the loft, staiulini:: on ti iiill 
after erossinii' the raihoad traek at the ^Nlarshfield depot, on the 
road from the Mar.Nhfiehl Post Offiee to Brant Koek. This 
house was built hy Nathan Thomas, and torn down in iSii;}. 
The jirojK-rty has oeen in the Thomas family over one hundred 
and tifty years. 

IchahoJ mar. Kuth, dan. of Capt. Benj. Turner, and settled 
in Pembroke, Mass. They were mar. Jan. "22, 1701, by the 
Kev. Thomas Smith. Kuth d. Oct. 12, 1801, in her sixty- 
sixth year. lehalxxl d. March 2, 1788, aged tifty-five. They 
had six sons and two daughters, viz. : I. Ichabod Thovufs, Jr., 
b. Oct. 23, 17G1. II. Sakah Thomas, b. Nov. 8, 17()3; was 
the tirst wife of the Rev. Levi Whitman, of Wellfleet, jNIass. 
Theii" children were: Levi, b. Jan. 1(>, 1789; Sarah, b. Fel). 
21, 1790 ; mar. Albion K. Parris, who was Governor of Maine 
in 1822, and when Gen. Lafayette visited there, and Ma}or of 
Portland in 1852. Mrs. Parris d. in Washington, D. C, Jan., 
1883, aired ninetv-three. Josiah and Kuth, b. Jan. 2>>, 1793; 
d. in Mav, 1793.^ Kuth, 2nd, b. June 21, 1794. Ichalxul T., 
1st, b. May 7, 179(i ; d. July 27, 1798. Elizabeth S., b. Oct. 
19, 1797. Hope Doane, b.^Feb. 3, 1799. lehabod T., 2nd, 
b. July 7, 1800; d. July 18, 1800. Catharine, b. Nov. 8, 
1802; d. March 14, 1803. AVillianiT., b. Dec. 17, 1803; d. 
Jan. 9, isn4. The mother, Sarah Whitman, d. Dec. 17, 1803. 
Kev. Mr. AMiitman mar. 2ndly, Dorothy Drew Thomas, relict 
of Charles Thomas, April 1(), 1807, and by her had one 
child, Thomas, b. 1809 ; d. aged two months twenty-six days. 
jNIr. Whitman d. in Kingston, Mass., Nov. 7, 1838, aged ninety. 
Dorothy d. ia P)oston, Feb. 4, 1840, aged seventy-seven. 
III. Benjamin Thomas, b. about 1764. Followed the sea. 
lY. Charles Thomas, b. Aug. 31, 1765; mar. Dorothy, dau. 
of William Drew, in 1788. He went to Macomb, ]\leDonough 
County, 111. The date of his death has not been aseertained. 
His ehildren were : Charles, b. Oct. 23, 1788; enlisted as an 
artificer in Capt. AValbach's Company U. S. Artillery, in the 
sprinij of 1814; was discharged April 25, 1815, and d. Jan. 
20,1818. George, 1st, b. Dec. 22, 1789; d. Jan. 4, 1790. 
George, 2nd, b. Dec. 30, 1790, who, by si)ecial act of the 
Court, :Mareh 10, 1827, had "Priest" added to his name, 
making it (leorge Priest Thomas. He mar., April 5, 1809, 
]Maria West, dau. of Kobert and ]\Iary (West) Foster. She 
d. in Boston, Jan. 27, 1847, aged fifty-six. He mar. 2ndly, 



164 IIIOAIAS OENEALOliV. 

June 25, lH51,l\Iary VyuH Niclmls, of lloadiii^, Mass., hy whom 
lie had im cirildrt'ii. lie d. in liostoii, Jan. 2-1, 1H(!7, aiicd 
sovciity-hnveu. I lis cliildirii liy Ids Hi^t wile wimc : 1. flidia 
rarvisi 1st, )». .Imio 14, l^^lO; d. Aii^-. 12, 1«12. 2. ('utlia- 
rine Drew, h. Dec. U, IHll ; d. in IMynionlh, :N. II., Oct. 1(1, 
1875, unniavrieil. 8. INlaria .An,t;nsta, 1». Sept. 80, 1H18 ; mar. 
elan. 1(S, 1H-Il,,l.ilm l'\ Mditon, (tf riyinoulh, N. II., a descend- 
ant (if the. Mtmlttins, of Kllswoitli ; he d. May 15, 1S75, a^ed 
sixly-livc; she d. Ang. fi, l^^o, aiied stixcnly- 'I'hey ha»l ejul- 
dren : .h.hn F., h. Sept. 2, 1845; d. daii. 24, 184(1. Kate 
]\hiiia, h. March 4, 1848; mar. Charles .1. Goidd, Dec. 25, 
1877. They iiave had tonr children. 4. Waldo L., b. Sept. 
27, 1815 ; liiar. Sa.ah Ann York, of New Market, N.II., Sept. 
12, 1841. lie went t«t('nlta, for his lu-altli, lint returned to 
Dorchester, where he d. May 15, 1857. She d. in New York 
City, ISIay 2ll, 1881. Their children were: KlU^n, Knnna, 
Laura, Valentine, Ralph \\'aldo, who mar. ]\Iary De lions, and 
Kva, who mar. and li\ es in Newton, ]\Iass. 5. Charles Fred- 
eric,* b. Aug. 211, 1817 ; mar. Dec. 2, 1838, Abigail Locke, 



* An nutiiliiiigvaiiby (if the eventful life of Ohaiies Frederic Thomas, to the present 
day, woiilil muko a must interesting,' lumk, and the anthor regrets that want of space 
allows hint liiit lii'ielly to refer to the main points thus far, he being nt>w seventy-two 
years of a^(\ and a^ ailive as a man of tliiily. 11c LTiadnutcd at lllaisdci's Academy, 
aside the (»UI Noitli Cininli, Huston, and soon after went to Antwerp, in the hrig 
" Volant," ('apt. liphraim I'inney, of I'lynuaith, Mass. Iteinniing ahont ISlil, ho went 
to Jvingston, Mass., to Icaru tlie trade of car|ieiitcr and hniithi, of Lewis Itiplcy, and 
later workcil tor Abraham Sliennan, of Cambridge. M'hile aiiciuiing tlie trial of Mar- 
\ in Mercy, w hi^ w as indicted tor bnrning the I'isniine ('nn\ent at Charlestow n, he made 
the acipiaintance ot somi Lo\vcll wtirlunen, \vlu» pirsnaiied liim to engage w ilh l^icker- 
Ing ^ Malliers, wiiere lie tinialicd his trade. Later, he worked tor his brother Waldo, 
at ^^'ate^tow n, a slmrt time., w hen he shiiipcd in the brig " Uoderiik lUm," to St, lago, 
W'. I. tbt the Islanil of Cuba, and in the mines of San Fernando, he hail a mo.-'t inter- 
esting experience, including matiy narrow escapes. Soon after Ins return to Uoston, he 
sailed tor Mobile, in the ship " Tiger," of 5110 tons, ow neil by Wheelwright & Co., Oen- 
lial WMiarl. Krom Mobile ho \ve\it to Liverpool, whence he saded for itoston, Jan. 8, 
lS;t3. T\\ (I weeks after his arri\ al in lioston, he joined the ship " New Jersey," 6.iO 
tiais, bound ftir New Orleans, Mo'iile, anil Li\eipool. lie shijipi'd in the same vessel 
fora second voyage to those ports, and, while lying at lUibuy island, at the month of 
the Parien River, lie bathed every day in the river, using a large sponge. A slave, w ho 
was very black, askeil him w hat made his skin so w hite. Mr. Thomas replieil, " The 
constant use tif this sponge." The negro, thinking the sponge would make him white, 
offered to give him a boat-load of provisions for the sponge, which Mr. Thounia ac- 
cepteil. Mr. Thounts says, "Not having seen hint sinie, I do not know whether he be- 
came whneliefore Mr. Lincoln's Kmancipatuin t'roclamation (>r not, but I ho|iehedid." 
Alter his letnrn from this voyage, he shipped as one of thooiticcrs mi the ship "William 
Fngs," for Liverpoid and Havana, arriving back in Litiston, Aug. 15, 1S;W. On the 2i)th 
of August, 18;i8, Charles became of age, and he and his brother Waldo were set up as 
iarpenters in Lowell, lie soon went to Waltham, and thence to Meilford, w here he 
worked jomeriiig for Ooodwm i^ Ventrin, JohnWinslow, aiul Anthony Waterman. 
From here he was hired by Cyrus Alger, of South lioston, to put in the toiindaiions for 
his anclmr forge on Ihachester Turnpike. Sears ^; Fitcli, of Boston, employeil him 
afterward in budding A. ^; A. Lawrence's sbne, on Milk street; the Swedenborgian 
Church, on Uowdoiu street; Old Colony Uailroad Station, on Kneeland street, etc. 
In IMl, he became u mechanical eugiuew', and later a, desiguex- ul locoiuutives and other 



THOMAS GENEALOGY. 155 

tlau. of Edward Page, of Deerfield, N. 11. She was b. May 
21, 1811 ; she d. in Brooklyn, May 14, 1885. Their cliihh-en 
were : Charles Frederic, b. in jNledford, April 13, 1841 ; d. in 
Brooklyn, N. Y., March 19, 1808, unmarried. Abbie Maria, 
b. in Boston, INIay 11, 1840 ; mar. first, Benjamin B., son of 
Major Benjamin B. French, of Washington, 1). C. He d. in 
Barronqnilla, So. America, Mny 2U, 1881, leaving children: 
Abl)ie jNIaiie, who was b. in Brooklyn, June 30, 18(57 ; Charles 
Francis, b. in New York City, July 25, 1869. Abbie Maria, 
the mother, mar. secondly, Hermann Joerns, in Brooklyn, N. Y.,. 
Feb. 28, 1882. He was b. in Hamburg, Germany, June 27,, 
1842. They have one son, Herman Ormond, b. June 4, 1884. 



machinery. "While employed by Uriah A. Boyden, at Manchester, N. H., he super- 
intended the construction of Turbine water wheels, and machinery for the Amoskeag 
Manufacturing Company and Suncook Cotton Mills. Under the instruction of Oliver 
Bailey, he constructed the locomotive " Mameluke," for the Manchester and Lawrence 
Railroad, which, on her trial trip, ran two miles in seventy seconds, and, on a later trip, 
tore herself to pieces. While here, be constructed a lathe twenty-two feet in diameter, 
the largest ever made. In 1852, William Mason, of Taunton, sent for Mr. Thomas.who 
located Mr. Mason's works at Taunton, and designed and superintended the construc- 
tion of the so-called Mason locomotive. In 1856 he received a bronze medal and diploma 
from the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association, for his skill in designing, 
drawing, and water-coloring. Mr. Thomas was called to Washington, D. C, by Gen. 
Montgomery C.Meigs, Cliief U.S. Engineer Corps, to take charge of the mechanical 
branch of the Department of Pul>lic Works under his charge, in 1857, viz. : United 
States Capitol Extension, New Dome on the Capitol, Washington Aqueduct, United 
States Post Office, and Fort Madison. The construction of the new dome was remod- 
elled at his suggestion, and it was successfully built under his supervision. He placed 
the statue of Freedom on the top of the dome, Dec. 2, 1863, planned all the scaffolding 
for its erection, and received a certificate, signed by Thomas U. Walter, Architect; 
Benjamin B. French, Commissioner of Public Buildings ; J. P. Usher, Secretary of the 
Interior; and countersigned by Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of 
America, acknowledging his valualile services. Mr. Thomas was removed from the 
Public Works in 1S61, and entered the United States Army, April 19, 1861, to serve three 
months. He was a member of the " President's Mounted Guard," District of Columbia 
Volunteers, served his time, and received an honorable discharge July 19, 1861. With 
others, he applied to President Lincoln for a commission to raise a regiment of cavalry, 
the "Mounted Guard" to be a nucleus; papers were endorsed by Mr. Lincoln, and 
passed through the proper offices, and returned, as that arm of the service was already 
supplied. Afterward, he Avas elected Captain of "K" Company, Interior Department 
Regiment, composed of all the workmen on the Public Works and Department of the 
Interior. When the statue was put in position, Mr. Thomas, after two sections of the 
scaffold were removed, stood upon the head, and was photographed, a copy of which 
photograph he has preserved; and then, with steel letters he marked President Lincoln's, 
Benjamin B. French's, Thomas U. Walter's, and his own name, in full, on the upper- 
most feather of her helmet. When the dome was completed, Mr. Thomas resigned his 
position as Superintendent of the Public Works, to take one more remunerative, with 
the Chester Manufacturing Company. Later, he tooK a position with J. B. & W. W. 
Cornell, architectural iron works, in New York, and served them as a Superintendent 
for six and one-half years. In 1871, Messrs. Thomas Otis Le Roy & Co., manufacturers 
of shot, sheet lead, and pine, employed him as engineer and general superintendent. 
He was with them eleven years, and made many improvements in the machinery, in- 
vented the spray and mist in the tower, so that larger shot could be dropped at less ele- 
vation, and originated and successfully got up the new standard scale for shot, which 
was adopted by the New York State Sportsmen's Association, at Batavia, N. Y., in 
1873. He is, at the time of this writing, engaged in building a street motor which he 
has perfected. It is a car run by steam and water stored in pipes connected with a small 
lire-box charged with mcandescent coal. 



ifli; 



rilOMAM (JKM-.AI,0«n . 



(uMMii*' Homv, l». it» lloslon. S«>|)|. 1»(, ISIS. ;i p!il(«Mn-tnMk(M' ; 
\\\',\y. .Ininic 11. (Jliiss. of N»m\ ^luK, in ISTl*. TluMr <-liiI«lron 
tiii< : (iroriio I'.'iLiv. I«. in \r\\ \ oil ('it\. Oct. i.';i. lS7i». 
l''l(U«M\<o Ann^liii, It. in Now \ o\k ('i(v.,lulv 1'.'. 1S7."). Tho 
lust (liil.l ol' ( "litnloM l'\ !Mul Altii:MiI TIummjis was Anu'lia K'lis- 
M«ll, 1». in r:uiiil«>n, Mmss.. Nov. im;. IS.M ; ,1. Frl>, i>7, is.'.a. 
CliMilos l''itMl«Mio, Sr., lUMr. i.*i\«ll\ . HmummIi Sophji Autlorson, (>!' 
S\\(m1«m\. ( ^*'l. 1*'K 1SS7, ItN \\l»«>in ln' lias oiuM-liiM. I'',(l:» Anu^li.-i, 
It. .Iimo 2.'), 18SS1. <;. DmiuoI llrij^iis. l,.()i-l. ll*. ISIK; (|..l:m. 
."U. ISilO. 7. Miiry KostiM-, 1>. .Imm. It^ ISi'l ; uv.w. I'li.-irK's 
A«wlr«Mv l'\tsti>r. !i porhiiil-p.'iinttM-. ,liiM«> A, isil ; ln> ^\. ,Iulv 
IS. ISS((, it) Kiuiislon. Thoir rliiMicn \\(Mi': ,luli;\ !M;>ri:i, 
tuMv. lii^l . \\ illi.'M\» Hiirns ; sot'oml. l''rr»l»Mi«'K PiirslnH^. ('Ii.nios 
n\\«>n. iu:ir. tirsi , lljillii^ \\'!i(soii ; sot'oinl. l-'.li/.ahrtli rmill. 
M;uv \\'Mi\ \\\:\\\ .Iolii\ (M.-n'Muoo. NoiM, lusu". K. I'M\\;m<I M.ir- 
«Um\. h»«v,, U),'H'. .loliM KimhI. «S\ ^^ illiiim Knapp. now ot' 
nrooklyn, \. V.. I*. .I.mu. \'.\, IS'J.'l. .-m :u'«>oniitlisl\o»l n\<Hli:inirMl 
oMiiinotM" ; tnar. I'ol*. I'll. ISII, M:u'v l"'>'!inr<'s Urown. ol' Hos- 
t»>i\. Thov havi' l»:ul rhiMvon : I'atnno. I>. Nov. lM), ISH. in 
So. Boston. Mass., i\\\y\ Ma (owh^s. h. .Inly l.'l, ISA'i.sit Mont- 
gonuMT, vVIa. Fain\iiMn;n'. l"'\«Ml»Mirk U. HassiMt. «>!' nrooUlyn, 
N. v.. Pro. \'.\, ISii.t. rhi'ir ohiMvon .Mn» : .hilius W illi.nn, 
h. Ovt. (». 1S(!(?. now vosiilino in Hiooklyn, N. ^". l-'retkMiok 
Uivwsloc. It. Jan. 1. 1S(»;>. no\v(lSSl>) a naval i>a«l«M. T. S. 
Na\y, ;nui .mI |t(«>-^«MU on \ . J^. S. " Kiolnnond." at Montovitloo, 
rruiiu.'iy. Ida ro\>U's, u\:\v. lv\>llin \\. l-'islior. ol* lUvston, Ww 
\l\. lS7»t. Thov h.a\o thiUlnM^ : l"\annio. 1>. l>tH\ \l\, 1S77. 
laa May. 1». Juno (!. IS7:>. lv»tllin U.. 1). Nov. U^ ISS;{. K. 
'rhojuas. It. l>ri\ '.\, ISS7, all «>! \\l\on\ woro It. in Boston. :K 
(uH)!^^ lloniv Auiinstus TluMtditro. I». I'ob. 7, liSi>.'>. Sonod 
his tiniowilli I>;\;u' an*l Sotli Ailanis, in Uoslon. LattM- luMvont 
to fnlta, whoro ho was I'onsnltiuii oniiinotM' ot' suiiav ost.atos. 
Ho d. o\\ tho t^stati^ ot' I. OS. l>os n«Mn\it\«tsoi\. July 'J.'). 1S.">7, 
.a«:ovl tlurty-tw»i y«>ars. tVoni tho olVoots ot' an aooi«tont. a oolnnui 
o\ a sto.'MU onuino t'alliuii' tu\ his lt;nk. !(K .Vd.alino ."-^niith. l>. 
Juno 7, lSi*7 : mar. llonry H\o\\ii. ol' l\o\hury. M.ass.. ,Iui\o 
l.t. ISI.'k Sho vl. in Ivoxltuw. No\. \0. 1S:>I. llo d. in May. 
ISSO. Thoir ohiM\'on \\«>ro: IKM»iy. who <1. in iul'anoy. Char- 
lotto, mar. Ch.arlos M. l-'ord. ol' rhiv'.aui^ .'>ntl thoy havo two 
l>oys, llarrv and l"'.«hlio. //. .lulia I'aiiis. i'n»l, h. May 1(>. 
IS.'U ; n\ar. (Jooi^o l.oriui: Urttwn. tho lU>><l»tt» artist. .Vpril I'S, 
IStU. Thoy had no ohiUh"o)i. J^ho is now livinv*' in M.-iKUmi. 
Mass. Hod. J\mo l'."t. 1SS!». a^od s»^\ ont\ -li\o voars. /l'. 




THOMAS GENEALOGY. 157 

Helen Louisa, 1). Aug. 26, 1833, was the twelftli and last child 
of George and Maria West Thomas. She d. Oct. 7, 1835. V. 

b. Aug. 4, 17(>7, is 

described, in a ])ass- 

'' 'iV / / f^/ _^, port issued in 1803, 

-^(^/^/irA»^ J*//^ffr>^ ^hen he was thirty- 

*" "^^^ six years of age, as 

follows : " Color, fair ; height, six feet ; mark, top of riglit arm ; 
eyes, gray ; nose, large; mouth, small ; chin, long; hair, ligiit 
brown." He mar. July 15, 1784, Huldah Dwelley ; their dau. 
mar. Thomas Barstow. Children: 1. iVIary, mar. ,] . Park- 
liurst, of New Bedford. 2. Julia, mar. Phillip Smith, of New 
Bedford. 3. George Barker, d. young. 4. liel)ecca Barstow, 
d. young. 5. Lydia Shaw, d. aged sixteen. (5. Eliza1)eth I)., 
d. young. 7. Elizabeth D., 2nd, mar. Capt. Stephen M. Pot- 
ter, and now lives at 479 County street, New Bedford. VI. 
Ruth Thomas, b. April 12, 17()I), mar. twice ; first. Dr. Charles 
Turner. Their chiklren were : Charles, Jr., b. June ^!, 17<S!), 
educated at Cainl)ridge, and d. jNlarcli 12, 1812 ; and John Phil- 
lips, b. Sei)t. 12, 1792 ; went to Coals Mouth, Kanawha Co., 
West Virginia. Ruth mar. second, Jabez Morse, of Pembroke, 

and they had one dau. Ruth, who mar. J^acon, and now 

resides at 4 Weld Avenue, Boston. VII. John Tho^ias, 1). 
1773; probably followed the sea. VIII. William Thomas,, 
h. 1775, d. Oct. 12, 1802, aged twenty-seven years. 

Idtahod Thomas, Sr., the shipbuilder, was appointed a cap- 
tain in 1765 by Governor Francis Bernard, of a troop of horse 
under Col. Thomas Clap, 2nd reg't, 1st brigade, 5th division 
of Plymouth Militia. 

Ichabod, Jr., the shipbuilder, b, Oct. 23, 1761, the oldest 
child of Icha])od, d. Nov. 11, 1859, aged 98 years, 17 days. 
He mar. Polly Thomas, a descendant of the Hanson family, 
Nov. 14, 1784, the ceremony being performed by the same 
minister who officiated at his father's marriage, Rev. Thomas 
Smith. Polly Thomas d. April 10, 1840, aged 80 years. 
They had six children, three died in infancy, one boy lived to 
1)6 13, and two dau's. lived to grow up and marry. 1st, Mercy 
Little mar. Cushing Otis Briggs of Scituate and had children : 
1. Charles Cushing, 2. William Thomas, 3. Hannah Barker, 4. 
James Edwin, 5. Harrison Otis, (>. ^lary Thomas, 7. Lloyd, 8. 
Franklin, (see Briggs and Fox Hill Yards for the descendants 



158 CWT. ICHABOI) THOMAS. 

of this fiiniily). 2nd, ]\Iai;y, mar. Joshua Perry of Hanson, 
and died without issue. Ca[)t. Ichabod, Jr., Avas an intelli^Lrent 
reader ; he liad a prood knowledge of oeouraphy, with k)cality 
large, and his brothers who were the saihirs said he knew more 
about foreign poits and phu-es than they did. lie was a h)ver 
of history and read the ne\vspa})ers until a short time before 
his death. He always had a steady hand and shaved himself 
on his last birthday. He was a master shipbuilder, and at 
different times was a partner with his uncle, Calvin Turner, 
with Elisha Briggs and William Cushing. Later he and his 
wife resided with their dan., Mrs. Perry, in Brooks, Maine, 
•and afterwards at their home in Hanson, his wife for 20 years 
and he for 40. He was fond of relating anecdotes, especially 
one about Mr. Cobb of Kingston. "When Mv. Cobb was 100 
years old he sent to Plymouth for a certain minister to preach 
the century sermon. Mr. ^Villis his minister at Kingston did 
not like it and so expressed himself. j\Ir. Cobb to pacify him 
'told him that he should preach the next century sermon. Mr. 
Thomas used always to add that if he should live to be 100 he 
•should like to have his grandson (Rev. ^^'illiam Thomas 
Briggs,) who was a minister, settled in Princeton, Mass. at 
that time, preach his century sermon. 

Ichabod Thomas, Jr., was in 1791 appointed Ensign by Gov- 
ernor John Hancock in a com})any of the 2nd regiment, 1st 
l)rigade, 5th division of the ^Massachusetts Militia, comprehend- 
ing the Counties of Plymouth. Barnstal)le, Bristol, Dukes and 
Nantucket. In 17U5he was appointed Lieutenant of the said 
company by CTOvernor Sanuiel Adams, and ai)j)ointed by Gov- 
ernor Caleb Strong, Captain in 1802. The muster roll of Capt. 
Thomas's company for the year 1804 contains the names of 
three commissioned officers, four sergeants and nuisicians, and 
rifty six men, including the names of Turner, Taylor, l^arstow, 
JNlagoun, Keen, Briggs, Bates, Hatch and others. On the first 
Tuesday in ]May in each year this company was called together 
for inspection. Cai)tain Thomas' resignation was accepted and 
he was honorably discharged at his own recjuest, March 1, 
1807. 

William Thomas succeeded to the home of his father Xathan 
Tlumias, and mar. Mary Hill, dau. of Abraham Hill of ^Maiden. 
Their children were: 1. AVilliam, b. Sept. 21,1747: 2. Mary, 
b. Feb. 17, 1749; 3. Nathan, 1). Jan. 18, 1751. d. Dec. 15,1751; 
4. Sarah, b. Jan. 21, (New Style) , 1753, mar. Thomas Baker, and 




Capt. Ichabod Thomas, Jr. 



THOMAS GENEALOGY. 159 

she died Jan. 6, 1822. The mother died 16 March, 1753, (New 
Style) ao-ed 24 yrs, 10 mos, 15 days. Capt. Wm. mar. 2udly, 
Abiah Thomas, March 11, 1754, they had: 1. Deborah, b. 
May 28th, 1755; 2. Luther, b. Jan. 25, 1757; 3. Jesse, b. 
Feb. 5, 1760 ; 4. Alice, and 5. Abiah, twins, b. July 6, 1762. 
Alice d. July 8, 1763, Abiah d. Sept. 18, 1768. 

William Thomas, eldest son of Capt. Wm. Thomas, mar. 

Abigail Sherman April 12, . They had 1. Mary Hill, 

mar. Abijah Waterman; 2. Abigail Chapman. 

Israel Thomas, 6th and youngest son of the Ancestor John, 
and Sarah Pitney, mar. Bethiah Sherman, Feb. 23, 1698. He 
died Jan. 29, 1755, in the 85th year of his age. She died in 
1728, aged 50. Children : 1. Gershom, b. April 17, 1699, mar. 
Mercy Hewit ; 2. Joseph, b. Jan. 4, 1702, d. single ; 3. Amos, 
b. Oct. 2, 1703, mar. Ruth, dau. of Joseph White and moved 
to Lebanon, Conn ; 4. Bethiah, b. 1705, mar. Israel Hatch Oct. 
27, 1725; 5. Keziah, b. Jan. 13, 1708, mar. John Dingley, 
Nov. 17, 1730; 6. Abigail, b. April 5, 1710, mar. Thomas 
Waterman, Jan. 25, 1732 ; 7. Nehemiah, b. July, 2Q, 1712, 
mar. Abiah, dau. of Nathaniel Winslow ; 8. Sybil, b. Jan. 6, 
1714, mar. John Tilden of Hanover, Dec. 2, 1742 ; 9. Jane, b. 
Dec. 31, 1718, mar. Thomas Ford, Jan., 1739-40 ; 10. Deborah, 
b. April 28, 1719, mar. Jabez Washburn of Kingston, Oct. 4, 
1751. 

Nehemiah Thomas, son of Dea. Israel, b. July 26, 1712, 
mar. Abiah AVinslow, dau. of Nathaniel and Deborah Barstow 
Bryant Winslow, widow of John Bryant, b. Dec. 9, 1741. 
Dea. Nehemiah d. May 30, 1782, aged 70. Abiah, wid. of 
Nehemiah, d. Aug. 7, 1809. They had children ; 1. Elithia, b. 
May 1, 1742, mar. Joseph Drew of Dux bury ; 2. Abigail, b. 
March 12, 1743, mar. Briggs Thomas, son of Col. Anthony 
Thomas ; 3. Ruth, b. Aug. 3, 1746, died young : 4. Nehemiah, 
b. Jan. 3, 1748 : 5. Nathaniel, b. Oct. 1, 1750, died unmarried ; 
6. Olive, b. Dec. 28, 1752, mar. Joshua Winsor, Duxbury ; 7. 
Ruth 2nd, 1). June 14, 1755, 2nd wife of Joshua Winsor; 8. 
Lucy, b. Nov. 27, 1757, died unmarried, aged 30 ; 9. Hannah, 
b. July 22, 1760, mar. Judah Thomas; 10. Winslow, b. July 
21, 1763, mar. Abigail Delano; 11. Nehemiah 2ud, b. Fel). 3, 
1766, mar. Hannah Otis of Scituate, at which place he settled 
in the niiui;.try ; 1^. Charles, b. Feb. 6, 1768, mar. Saba Ever- 
son of KiniTston. 



160 TH03IAS GENEALOGY. 

James Thomas, 4th son of the ancestor John, and Sarah 

Pitney, settled inDuxburv, near ]\Iarshfield ; mar. Mary . 

They\ad: 1. Mavy, b. Sept. 27, 1(393: 2. James, b. Feb. 10, 
l(i96; 3. Hannah, b. Aug. 30, 1098, mar. Wrestling Brewster 
of Kingston, 1722; 4. John, 1). Nov. 4, 1700, mar. Hannah 
Spofford and settled in Lebanon, Conn ; 5. E])enezer, b. Sept. 
30, 1703, mar. and settled in Norwich, Conn. ; 6. Ezekiel, b. 
Sept. 29, 170(5, mar. and moved to Lebanon, Conn. 

Capt. James mar. Deborah, dau. of John and Jane Hatch 
Sherman, Feb. 12, 1715, and d. Jan 16, 175S, aged 54. Debo- 
rah, his widow, d. Feb. 5, 1774, aged 84. They had chil. : 1. 
Abiah, b. March 25, 1720, mar. Capt. William Thomas of 
Marshtield; 2. Deborah, b. May, 7, 1722, d. July 19, 1747, 
aged 25 yrs., 2 mos. ; 3. James, b. Feb. 1, 1720, mar. Priscilla 
Winslow. They are ancestors of Hon. B. W. Harris of Bridge- 
water ; 4. Jesse, b. Sept. 10, 1728, a merchant and sm'veyor, 
d. of consumption, while waiting at ]\Ieduncook, Me. for a 
passage home. He was a man of much property. 

Ebenezer Thomas, of Norwich, Conn., 5th child of Jas. and 
Mary, mar. for his tirst wife Hannah Haskins, March 7, 1735. 
She died July, 1747. They had chil. : 1. Hannah, b. Sept. 3, 
1733; 2. Ebenezer, b. Oct. (i, 1734, probably d. early; 3. 
Mary, b. March 9, 1735 ; 4. Lucretia, b. Sept. 5, 1738 ; 6. 
Abigail, b. Sept. 8, 1740; 7. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 28, 1742-3; 
8. Elizabeth, b. July 2, 1747, d. 1799. Ebenezer Thomas 
mar. 2ndly Deborah Hyde. They had chil. : 1. Deborah, b. 
Oct. 10, 1749, mar. Captain Frederic Tracy; 2. Clarissa, 
b. Dec. 13, 1753, d. Aug. 21, 1758; 3. Simeon, b. Dec. 
13, 1753, mar. Miss Deshon of New London, parents of 
Edward Thomas of Augusta, Ga., b. 1793. Thomas Langrel, 
the youngest son of El)enezer and Deborah Hyde Thomas, b. 
Aug. 1, 1757, left no sons. Henry Thomas, father of Caroline 
Thomas of Norwich, Conn., w^as son of Ebenezer, b. 1742-3. 

Ezekiel Thomas of Lebanon, Conn., 7th child of Jas. and 
Mary, mar. Sarah Trumbull, Feb. 25, 1735-3(5. They had 
chil. : 1. Ezekiel, b. Dec. 15, 1736, d. May 8, 1737. Sarah, 
the mother, d. Dec. 18, 1736. Ezekiel mar. 2ndly, Ann 
Haskins, 1740. They had chil. : 1. Sarah, b. Aug. 4, 1741. 
2. Ezekiel, b. Feb. 1743; 3. Ann,b. Feb. 20, 1744; 4. Sybil, 
b. March 8, 1747 ; 5. Lord, b. Aug. 29, ]»748 ; 6. Jethaniah, 
b. July 1, 1750; 7. Daniel, b. May 5, 1753; 8. Josiah, b. 



THE ANCESTORS, JOHN AND SARAH PITNEY THOMAS. 161 



Oct. 17, 


1755 ; 9. John, b. May 29, 1757 ; 10. Mabel, b. 


March 4, 


1759; 11. Josiah, b. Sept. 17, 1762; 12. Jesse, b. 


Aug. 21, 


1764. 



To return to the ancestor John : — the following is taken from 
an address delivered by the late Marcia Thomas, on the 
occasion of the re-union of the Thomas family at the old home- 
stead in Marshfield, Sat., elune 15, 1872, and the presentation 
of a statue by Stephen M. Allen, Esq. of Boston. 

" All of the descendants of John Thomas and Sarah Pitney, 
who were among the first settlers of Marshfield, and Avere 
married Dec. 21, 1648, occupying the farm adjoining the 
Daniel Webster place, now the residence of the family of Miss 
Adelaide Phillips, were invited to take an interest and part at 
the family gathering and memorial services at the old home- 
stead spot to-day ; complimentary to the members of the Thomas 
family, as well as a tribute of respect to Miss Phillips, whose 
kindness and hospitality so many of the descendants of the 
Thomas family have had occasion to acknowledge during the 
last twelve years, on visiting the old homestead. 

"The memorial presented is a metalic female figure; (a Grecian 
nymph,) two-thirds size of life, which is to stand near the street 
upon the edge of the old cellar, looking down upon the ruin. 
She holds in her elevated left hand an inverted water-urn, or 
vase, and in her right, which also clasps the drapery of her 
dress, a wreath. The design idealizes the return to earth of 
the ancestress, to visit the homestead, bringing a wreath of 
flowers and laurel for the fair songstress, now resident there. 
The attitude is the chosen moment when the nymph steps upon 
the mound of rock and earth, and seems lost in wonder at the 
changed appearance of the ancestral home, and inadvertently 
raises the hand which contains the urn, pouring out the water 
upon the ground, still clasping the wreath. The statue is one 
of rare grace, delicacy, and beauty, and was east in Germany. 
Of that woman who stands at the head of our Ime in this country 
we have much to say, and the heart warms in the consciousness 
that where we now stand, she has often stood before : that on 
this beautiful landscape, which entrances our own eyes and 
heart, she has often gazed with all the fervor of romance and 
all the enthusiasm of love which we can know or feel. Her 
emotional life must have been deeper than ours, for here, at her 
bridal home, were entertained, with perhaps the highest domes- 



162 THE ANCESTORS, JOHN AND SARAH PITNEY THOMAS. 

. . 1 i.ov firP^Kle shades of constant fear. Here, in 

{'' J",^T/Jhr^t.u a«d t e lie: httone «ere never free from the 
her day, the altai ana uie pitnev was a heroic 

London in the ship P^'^jl^; 'f.,tVer James Pitney, had pre- 

phK.eof^vo,■s.n;,an.y■e-« to^^ ;™^*™ ,„i„,^t be able 
gai-meiits, with his nfle by hi,, '!<=<»»'";_,. ^ ^^^^ Their 
r„ reiKler a^-t™ce to t^^^^ r,; ;;"t"?tiint were never 
fears ot ""a^k fum. » ;;;f;^ '^^^Ver carried into captivity 
reahzed. Uie peopie diyuu^ v.votectinff care of their 

" H"'--" •• :^tt:^':s^^<^ ';L"-7w.?b"te i,y 

third entered "" '^e -eo.jls rf^^^^^^^^ ^\J^.^^^. ,^ ^he 

this homestead, which hail u^e" ^; , ., ,,eiohh<.rliood, and for 
town for the tetter accomnioati(,nt a ntahoo , 

furnishing -'di ad.litic^ to lieu ^^^A^^^^^o^i his 

;:pp^vfr" n w^S; berwe'd on Robe.. Cai.er, brother to 



THE ANCESTORS, JOHN AND SARAH PITNET THOMAS. 163 

the first Governor of the colony, who, after the lapse of five 
years, with the approl^ation of Mr. Wii slow, transferred it to 
John Thomas, and the former remo\'ed to another grant, where 
his descendants yet reside. This neighborhood was one of the 
most favored in the colony. The domains of Mr. Winslow and 
Mr. Wm. Thomas, another of its founders, were extensive. 
On this spot, midway between their fortified mansion-houses, 
she reared her family, numbering six sons and two daughters. 
Her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, deceased in early womanhood. 
Her other daughter, Sarah, married Ben j. Phillips of this place ; 
one of her sons, Ephraim, removed to Providence Plantation; 
her other five settled in this section of the old colony, mostly 
on lands granted from time to time to their father. They all 
left a fair record on the pages of history, and their descendants 
can now be counted by thousands, scattered from the Atlantic 
to the Pacific coast. Her days were passed amid stirring, and 
to us, historic scenes, too numerous to name. Courts for 
magistracy and councils of war were holden at Careswell. 
After the lamented decease at sea of Gov. Edward Winslow, in 
l()5(j, his son Josiah presided at the family mansion. He 
became the first native-born Governor of the colony, and 
chief commander of its military forces. His useful life was 
closed in KiSO, at the age of fifty two. Philip's war, as it was 
termed, was far more alainiino; to the settlers of this reio;n than 
previous difficulties with the native tribes ; but Careswell was 
fortified, and here, with the 3^ounger children of her household, 
she doul)tless found a retreat of measurable safety under the 
protecting arm of the colony and the invulnerable Standish." 

Capt. Ichabod Thomas, after his marriage with Ruth Turner, 
the daughter of his instructor, Capt. Benj., left his native 
town, and settled on an estate in Pembroke, purchased of 
James Randall, as the following extracts from a deed prove : 

" To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting, &c. : Know 
ye that James Randall of Pembroke in the County of Plimouth in 
New Eng. Blacksmith, for and in consideration of the sum of One 
hundred and Eight pounds in Lawful Money of New Eng. to me in 
hand paid by Ichabod Thomas of the town, etc. afoies'd, Ship- 
ivrig-ht, the rec'pt whereof I do hei-eby acknowledge and myself 
satisfied content, etc. Have given, granted, etc. unto him the s'd 
Ichabod Thomas, his heirs, and assigns forever a certain farm or 
tract of land with the buildings and fencing thereon, standing and 
belonging, etc. in ye township of Pembroke afores'd, containing by 
estimation 21 J acres more or less, bounded as follows : — Beginning 
at a large Rock lying on the South side of the county road near 



164 CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS' YARD. 

where the house stood, formerly Lclonging to old Levt. Barker, now 
Isaac Taylor's, from thence is bounded by s'd roade to the land of 
David Magoim, and thence westerly by s'd Magoun's land to tlie 
land of Col. James Otis, Esqr. — taken by virtue of an Execution 
s'd Otis had against s'd Randall, and thence southerly by s'd Otis' 
land to the land I sold to Capt. Benjamin Turner, and thence east- 
erly by said Turner's land to said County road, thence northerly by 
s'd county road unto the s'd great Rock, the bounds first mentioned, 
except and alwa}'S reserving the way which formerly belonged to 
Abraham Booth, from.tlie County road to his land. To have and to 
hold, etc. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and 
Seal this twenty-ninth day of January, Anno Domini, 1761. 

James Randall [6"<?a/.] 
Signed, Sealed and delivered in presence of 

Elisha Barker. 

Benj". Turner. 

Tills farm i.s now owned and occupied by Wm. H. II. Colla- 
more, Es(|. 

Capt. Ichabod Thomas, Senior^ built at the Brick-Kilns from 
about I7(i4 to 17<S7-«8. The first vessel that was built at this 
yard, whose name has been ascertained, was the brig " NOR- 
FOLK," built by Ichabod Thomas, at North lYiver,"in 17(i5. 
The next vessel of which any account has been found uas built 
the same year, nC),"), the ship " NEPTUNE," commanded by 
Capt. Nathan Coffin, to London, with a load of sj)erm oil. Cof- 
fin was ca})tured upon a like voyage to London, and, when 
taken, the British Admiral said, "Capt. Coffin, you can join 
His Majesty's service, or go into irons." " Ilaug me, if you 
will, to your shi[)'s yard-arm, but do not ask me to become a 
traitoi to my country."* Capt. Coffin Avas grandfather of 
Chas. H. Marshall, who established the famous "Black Ball" 
line of Packets between New York and Liverpool (so named 
because each vessel had a large black ball in the centre of the 
fore-top-sail). His first voyage was in 1804, in the ship 
"LIMA," built on North River. The "Lima" was condemned 
at liio Janeiro, 1842. 

The next vessel on record as having been built by Ichabod 
Thomas, was the " BEAVER," one of the tea-ships of Boston 
Harbor, from which the tea Avas throAvn by the famous tea- 
party, Dec. 10, 1773. The following is taken from "Traits of 
the Boston Tea-i)art3-," by a Bostonian (B. B. Thatcher) : 



* See Bancroft, 0th vol., page 313. 




Thk Bostonians paying the Excise Man, ok 
"Takrixg and Feathering." 



THE TEA SHIP " BEAVER," BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN. 165 

"The excitement occasioned by the arrival of the tea-ship ' Dart- 
mou th ' can be better imagined than described. The following no- 
tice was posted up all over Boston : — ' Friends ! — Brethren ! — Coun- 
trymen ! — that worst of plagues, the detested Tea, shipped for this 
Port by the East-India Company, is now arrived in this Harbour; 
the Hour of Destruction, or manly opposition to the Machinations of 
Tyrrany, stares you in the Face ; every Friend to his Country, to 
himself, and to Posterity, is now called upon to meet at Faneuil 
Hall, at nine o'clock. This Day, (at which time the Bells will ring,) 
to make a united and successful resistance to this last, worst and 
most destructive measure of administration. Boston, Nov. 29th, 
1773.' Meetings were held in Faneuil Hall and the Old South 
Church, and it was resolved that ' the tea should not only be sent 
back, but no duty should be paid thereon.' Capt. Hall, and Mr. 
Francis Rotch, the owner of the ' Dartmouth,' were ' convented' 
and charged not to land the tea, at their peril. A watch of twenty- 
five persons, under command of Capt. Proctor, was appointed to 
prevent the landing of the tea in the night." 

On Dec. 1, 1773, there arrived the ship " Eleanor," Capt. 
Jas. Bruce, with a })oi-tion of the ten, and about the same time 
there arrived the brig "Z>Wye>'," Capt. Hezekiah Cotiin, with 
the rest of the tea. He was ordered to proceed to GriflSn's 
Wharf, and discharge all of his cargo excepting the tea. On 
Dec. IG, there was held, in Faneuil Hall, the greatest meeting 
ever held in Boston up to that time, two thousand persons 
coming from the country, besides thousands from the city. 
Mr. Kotch reported that the Collector would not give him a 
clearance. He was then ordered upon his peril to get his ships 
ready for sea, and proceed directly to the Governor, then at 
Milton, and procure a pass for his ships to go by the Castle. 
Mr. liotch returned at 5.45 p.m., and reported that the Gover- 
nor would not grant the permit. The meeting lasted until well 
into the evening, which was bright moonlight. The following- 
account is taken from the Massackm^etts Gazette : 

"Just before the dissolution of the meeting, a number of brave and 
resolute men, dressed in the Indian manner, approached near the door of 
the assembly, and gave the war-whooji, which rang through the house, and 
was answered by some in the galleries ; but silence was commanded, and 
a peaceable deportment again enjoined till the dissolution. The Indians, 
as they were then called, repaired to the wharf where the ships lay that 
had the tea on board, and were followed by hundreds of peo])le, to see the 
event of the transactions of those who made so grotesque an a])pearance. 
They, the Indians, immediately repaired on board Capt. Hall's ship, where 
they hoisted out the chests of tea, and, when on deck, stove the chests, and 
hove the tea overboard. Having cleared this ship, they proceeded to Capt. 
Bruce's, and then to Capt. Coffiii's brig. They applied themselves so dex- 
terously to the destruction of this commodity, that in the space of three 



166 THE TEA SHir " BEAVER." 

hours they broke up 342 chests, valued at £18,000, which was the whole 
number in those vessels, and discharged their contents into the dock. 
When the tide rose, it floated the broken chests, and the tea, insomuch that 
the surface of the water was filled therewith a considerable way from the 
south part of the town to Dorchester Neck, and lodged on the shores. 
There was the greatest care taken to prevent the tea from being purloined 
by the populace. One or two being detected in endeavoring to pocket 
a small quantity, were stripped of their acquisitions, and very roughly 
handled. The town was very quiet during the whole evening and the night 
following. Those who were from the country went home, and the next 
day joy appeared in almost every countenance, — some on occasion of the 
destruction of the tea, others on account of the quietness with Avhich it was 
eftected. One of the Monday's papers says that the masters and owners 
are well pleased that the ships are thus cleared." 

Some of the men were belated, and, not having time to get 
up a costume equal to their brethren, hurried to the nearest 
l)lacksmith's shop, smooched their faces, borrowed a blanket 
from some neighbor, thus concealing their clothing and iden- 
tity, and proceeded to the ships, to join the rest of the tril)e, 
shouting, as they went, " Hurrah for Griffin's Wharf! " " Bos- 
ton Harbor a tea-pot this night ! " etc. There were about one 
hundred to one hundred and fifty tea-throwers, and, bef(jre 
leaving the wharf, all were searched, and pockets and shoes 
emptied of the tea, that none of it should be landed. One of 
the tea-party, Archibald MacNeil, died in Scituate, Mass., Feb. 
1, 1840, aged ninety years. The "Beaver" was built al)otit 
the same time as the " Bedford." F. C. Sanford has an account 
of her voyage to London with a load of sperm oil, Dec, 1772, 
consigned to a man who did an inunense business with Nan- 
tucket, Samuel Enderby, grandfather to Pacha Baker, who was 
murdered in Egypt a few years ago. The " Beaver " followed 
whaling from New Bedford for years. After the tea was thrown 
out of her, both she and the "Bedford," Capt. Robt. Header, 
went upon the Brazil Banks, and filled with oil. While on the 
coast of Brazil, Capt. Hezekiah Coffin, of the "Beaver," al- 
lowed an exchange of Alex. Hay, one of his men, to come to 
Nantucket, and one of Capt. Header's, from the ship "Bed- 
ford," by the name of Seymour, to go in the "Beaver," to Lon- 
don. Seymour wanted more of the ship's voyage than the 
agreement upon the Banks, so they had to send to Nantucket 
for Cai)t. Header's affidavit, for Capt. Coffin having died, they 
could not settle his estate. F. C. Sanford has Capt. Header's 
affidavit, dated Jan. 27, 1783, also the entry of the "Bedford," 
Nantucket, May 31, 1783, in the book kept by Geo. Gardiner, 
Esq., first U. S. Custom House officer appointed to Nantucket. 



SHIPS BUILT BY CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS. 167 

In the spring of 1774, the "Bedford" returned to Nantncket, 
!ind the "Beaver" to England, where Capt. Hezekiah Coffin, of 
the "Beaver," died, and the ship was sold. The "Bedford" 
lay at Xantucket seven years, then loaded with four hundred and 
eifihty-eiirht hutts of oil, sailed for J^nizland, and hoisted the 
U" S! flag. Another " BEAVER " was built on Xorth Eiver in 
1791. She went to the Pacific, and was afterwards sold in New 
York. The "Dartmouth," built at Dartmouth about 1767, was 
also a tea-ship ; and after the tea was thrown into Boston Har- 
I)()r, she came down to Xantucket, and in the following April, 
1774, loaded oil and sailed for London. On her way back, she 
foundered, in November, and her crew were picked up by Shu- 
bael Cofiin, Nantucket. 

The next ship of Ichabod Thomas', of which there is any 
account, is the ship " HARMONY," built on North River pre- 
vious to 1769, at which date F. C. Sanford has a voyage made 
by her. She belonged to Wm. Rotch. In company with the 
"Falkland," in 1790, she went from Dunkirk, France, to the 
Pacific Ocean, both sailing in November. They were the first 
that went into the Pacific, after the " Amelia." They filled with 
sperm oil, and both arrived in Dunkirk in Feb., 1792. They 
were at Callao, Peru, when the ship " Columbia," Capt. Gray, 
was there, on his way to the Northwest Coast. Mr. Rotch was 
induced to send these vessels to the Pacific, from information 
given him by Archelus Hammond, who arrived in London, 
Septeml)er, 1790, in the ship "Amelia," (Capt Shield,) full of 
sperm oil. She belonged to Samuel Enderby, who did much 
business with Nantucket people. Hammond was a great whale- 
man, and struck the first whale struck in the Pacific Ocean. 
He died in 1830, aged seventy-one years. F. C. Sanford 
writes, "I knew Hammond well. Sam Enderby was grand- 
father to the late Gen. Gordon, of Egyptian memory." The 
"LEO" was built on North River in 1774, went whaling, and 
was broken up in 1823, at Nantucket. The " Harmony " was 
in company with the ship "Leo" in 1796. On the Brazil 
Banks in 1796 a whale leaped out of the sea across the "Har- 
mony's" deck and sunk her, the, crew jumping from their 
berths, having barely time to get into their l)oats and escape 
aboard the "Leo." Abel Rawson was Captain of the "Har- 
mony." This is the only case of the kind on record. The 
"FALKLAND," spoken of above, was built on North River in 
1785, by Ichabod Thomas, and owned by Wm. Rotch. She 



168 SHIPS BUILT BY CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS. 

was finfilly sold to France, and, as a French privateer, did 
noble work in the English Channel, taking English ships. 
The next vessel was the ship "TAMA," built "before the "Bed- 
ford " She was a London packet from Nantucket. Five Nan- 
tucket men were carried to Portsmouth in the sloop-of-war 
"Rattlesnake," with the news of Cornwallis' surrender, Octo- 
ber, 1781. On arriving there, they were pressed into "Rod- 
ney's" sliip, were taken to the West Indies, and fought in the 
great l)attle of the 12th of April, 1782, saving the West Indies 
from DeGrass.* They returned to England, were paid off, and 
went round to London in a lugger, and there met the " Tama," 
Cajit. Shu1)ael Coffin. They took passage, and arrived at Nantuc- 
ket safe. The " Tama " went ashore on Long Island, comino; from 
New York, in 1807, and went to pieces. The " SOMERSET," 
a North River ship, built at the Brick-Kilns, was under Alex- 
ander Coffin, and on her passage from London to Nantucket, 
during the Revolution, as a London packet, she was taken by 
Com. John Paul Jones, and badly handled. Capt. Coffin had 
despatches from Dr. Franklin to the Continental Congress, an- 
nouncing the Treaty with France of that glorious alliance.f 
The papers were afterwards restored, by Com. Jones, to the 
Congress. Nantucket had tifteen London packets at that time. 
Alexander Coffin was a strong, splendid man. He moved to 
Hudson in 1784, and was a prominent man in that city, being 
Mayor twenty years. He died in 1839, aged ninety-seven 
years, eight months. 

At no yard on North River were such a numl)er of fjimous 
ships Iniilt. The name of Ichal)od Thomas should certainly be 
perpetuated in the memorials of his town, for he, more than any 
other man, spread the renown of North River in foreign ports, 
and there appears no excuse for not having recorded, years ago, 
the history of the ship-building here, and the ships that became 
so ftmious, which were sent out from the then little town of 
Peml)roke. Between 1775 and 1783 the fisheries produced 
but little. Nantucket was the only port which attemi)ted to 
carry it on, and at the close of the war 134 vessels had fallen 
into the hands of the English and 15 had been lost at sea. This 
discouraged the merchants,* and comparatively few vessels were 
built durinof these vears. But before the dull season Ichabod 



* See London Illustrated News, 1859. 
t See Genealogical Journal. 



SHIP "BEDFORD," FIRST VESSEL TO CARRY THE 169 

Thomas l)uilt one more vessel, which became famous, and was 
the first vessel that carried the American Stars and Stripes into 
a British port. She caused such consternation on her arrival 
as probably no other vessel ever did before or has since. 

This was the "BEDFORD." She was first rigged as a 
schooner, afterward changed to a brig, and finally rebuilt, 
raised upon, furnished Avith an additional deck, and rigged as a 
ship. After all these alterations, she measured only 170 or 
180 tons. No portrait of her has been preserved. The orig- 
inal receipt of the last payment made by her owner, Wm. 
Eotch, to her builder, Ichabod Thomas, is in the possession of 
F. C. Sanford, Esq. The following is a copy : — 

Nantucket, ii mo. 13th. 1772. 
Received ofWilliam Rotch Ninety Pounds, twelve shillings, 4 d., 
L. M. (lawful money), supposed to be in full for his building me a 
Brigantine, " Bedford.^'^ including Elisha Tolman's joining said 
vessel. 

Signed " Ichabod Thomas." 

The "Bedford" was first sent to Philadelphia, and arrived in 
Nantucket from Philadelphia, with a cargo of flour, under Capt. 
Thomas Bunker, when she registered at Nantucket. She 
sailed in 177G for Brazil Banks and ai'rived home March 13, 
1777, full of oil. The " Bedford " lay at Nantucket several years 
and in Sept. , 1782 , the " Maria " came new from Ichabod Thomas. 
She was not completed, and the old Quaker merchants had 
private imformation that a peace was coming, and as the " Maria " 
could not be despatched in time they hauled down the Bedford 
and sent her to London. She arrived Feb. 6, oft' Trinity, with 
the Stars and Stripes flying. Custom House officers had to 
apply to lower solicitors to know what to do with her. She 
entered, and that was the first IT. S. flag ever displayed in 
Europe. Her appearance was thus chronicled by an English 
magazine of that day. 

"The " Bedford," Capt. Mooers, belonging to Mass., arrived in theD wns 
on tlie 3rd of February, passed tlie Gravesend the 4th, and was reporti at 
the Custom House, the Gth. inst. She was not allowed regular entry until 
some consixltation had taken place between the Commissioners of the Cus- 
toms and the Lords of the Council, on account of the many Acts of Parlia- 
ment yet in force against the rebels in America. She is loaded with 488 
butts of whale-oil, is American built, manned Avholly by American sea-men, 
weai's the rebel colors, and belongs to tlie Island of Nantucket in Massa- 
chusetts. This is the first vessel which has displayed the 13 rebellious 
stripes in any British Port. The vessel lies at Hoi'sely Down, a little below 
theTower and is intended immediately to return to New England." 



170 UNITED STATES FLAG INTO A UKITISII POKT. 

It is related that one of the crew of the ship "Bedford," while 
she was lying in the Thames, was humpbacked. One day a 
British sailor met him, clapped his hand on the American's 
shoulder, and said "llilloa. Jack, what have you got here?" 
"Bunker Hill, and l)e damned to you," replied the Yankee. 
"AVill you mount?" The British sailor, calling to mind the 
experience of his next of kin, the British soldier, in mounting 
Bunker Ilill in America, decided not to attempt it on the 
British Isle. Capt. Wm. Mooers, the master of the " Bedford," 
and afterwards master of the "INIaria," is traditionally reported 
as one of "nature's noblemen," and his prowess as a whaleman 
is familiar to all who have made themselves acquainted with 
that hazardous branch of our national enterprise. Erect and 
commanding in appearance, standing over six feet, and weigh- 
ing more than two hundred pounds, he would have been a 
marked man in a thousand. He died in 1819, in France, where 
he was then doing business as agent of Wm. Rotch & Co. The 
first publication of the terms of the treaty was Jan. 2S, 1783, 
in a ])ostscript of the London papers, about a week before the 
arrival of the "Bedford." The King's proclamation was not 
published until the loth of Febuary, twelve days after her 
arrival. The news was first received in Boston, April 23rd, 
but the treaty was not signed until September. It is, therefore, 
no wonder that when the master of the " Bedford " appeared 
and demanded to enter his vessel at the Custom House, with 
her cargo of oil, coming from a country and people who were 
still considered rebels, his appearance created astonishment. 
In general, the proof in full of vessels having been built at the 
different yards on North lliver has not been given, as it would 
take too much space, but where it is stated that vessels were 
built at certain yards, proof positive has been found of the fact, 
us in the case of the " Bedford. " Besides the.receipt from Ichabod 
Thomas, now" in existence, there is additional proof in the form 
of a letter, of Avhich the following is a co})y, written by AVm. 
Rotch, Jr., one of her owners, and dated at New Bedford, 8th 
mo., 3rd, 1842: 

" Dear Friend : 

In my reply to thy letter of the 2ist ult., received last evening, 
according to the best of my recollection, my father had a vessel built 
by Ichabod Thomas^ at No7-th River ^ just before the Revolution, 
for himself and Champion & Dickason, of London, for the London 
trade. After the war commenced, she laid at Nantucket several 
years, imtil a license was procured for her to go to London with a 




Ship " Maria." 
Built by Ichabod Thomas at the Brick-kilns, in 1782. 



THE FIRST U. S. FLAG EXHIBITED IN QUEBEC. 171 

cargo of oil, Timothy Folger, commander. Several gentlemen froni 
Boston took passage in her, among whom were the late Governor 

Winthrop, Thomas K. Jones, Hutchinson, and some others 

whose names I do not recollect. 

We sent the sloop "SPEEDWELL" (also built by Ichabod 
Thomas) to Aux Cayes, St. Domingo. She was taken and carried 
into Jamaica, but her Captain was released one day after. By the 
treaty, the war ceased in that latitude, and she was released when 
she showed the first United States flag there. On her return home, 
everything was very low ]:>y the return of peace. We put on board 
two hundred boxes of candles, and with William Johnson (whose 
widow, I learned, lives at Qiiassi,) as supercarpo, sent her to Que- 
bec, where her's was the first United States flag exhibited. 

Should thee wish any further information within my recollection, 
I will freely communicate it. 

I am, with love to thy wife, 

Thy aflectionate friend, 

Wm. Rotch, Jr." 

What finally became of the " Bedford " I have been unable to 
ascertain. To Ichabod Thomas, also, must be given the credit of 
building the vessel which, as far as any record is preserved, 
was in the service longer than any other vessel built on North 
River. 

This was the "MAEIA," built in 1782, and broken up in 
1872, at Vancouver's Island, after sailing for ninety years, 
during which time she touched at nearly every seaport of the 
globe. She was at Falkland Islands in 1785 ; Greenland, 1788, 
as high as 79° N. in the ice on June 22nd. Her career would 
make a romantic book. She was built at Pembroke for a pri- 
vateer, but never used as such. When finished, she was pur- 
chased by Mr. Rotch, for a merchant vessel, and brought by 
Capt. Wm. Mooers to Nantucket, previous to his sailing thence 
in the "Bedford." On his return from that voyage, he took 
the " Maria " to London with a cargo of oil ; and on a subse- 
quent passage, he made in her the voyage from Nantucket to 
Dover in twenty-one days. She sailed from Nantucket for 
London, July 4, 1785. Her owners, William and Benjamin 
Rotch, the father and brother of Wm. Rotch, Jr., were on board 
as passengers, going to estaljlish the whale fishery from an 
English port. It is narrated that, on the passage, Mr. Rotch, 
during a storm, became alarmed, and, venturing part way out 
of the cabin gangway, said, "Capt. Mooers, it Avould be more 
conducive to our safety foi* thee to take in some sail ; thee had 
better do so." To which Capt. Mooers replied, " Mr. Rotch, 



172 " MARIA " BUILT BY CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS. 

I have the deck, you have the cabin." He could not brook 
dictation, even from his owner. The "Maria "was lying at 
Nantucket when the " Bedford " was at anchor in the Downs. 
Mary Thomas, afterward JNIrs. Joshua Perry, granddaughter of 
Ichabod Thomas, wrote, many years ago, the following : " ]\Iy 
grandfather, Ichabod Thomas, built the ship ' Maria ' during 
the Revolution. After many years being out of repair. My. 
William Kotch who Ijought her, told his son-in-law, Samuel 
Eodman, he would give it to him. He said he would not ac- 
cept it. Mr. Rotch said it was built by his old friend, Ichabod 
Thomas, and must be repaired. He repaired it, and then asked 
his son-in-law to accept it ; and he did." After her voyage to 
London, the "Maria" was employed in the whale fishery, and 
for tifty or sixty years was owaied by Sanmel Rodman of Xew 
Bedford, and his descendants. It is said there stood to her 
credit, in 1859, $250,000 ; and she had been of expense to her 
underwriters but once, and then only for a trifling amount. 
She made five voyages to the Pacific within the short space of 
six years, returning each time with a full cargo of oil, 1215 
barrels. She concluded her first whaling voyage on the 26th 
of September, 1795. In her seventy-seventh year, she arrived 
at New Bedford from a three years' cruise in the Indian Ocean. 
" She was," says the /Sfaudard of that date, " built at the town 
of Pembroke, for a privateer, during the Revolutionary A\'ar. 
Her flag is now in existence, though in shreds. Her model is 
of old French construction, tumbling home, or rounding very 
much, in her top sides, and she is consequently very narrow on 
deck in proportion to her size, 202 to;^s'." She sailed from 
New Bedford on her twenty-seventh and last Avhaling voyage 
under our flag, on the 29th of September, 1859. On these 
voyages, she is credited with having taken 24,419 barrels of 
sperm, and 134 barrels of whale oil. In 1856, Mr. Harditch, 
of Fairhaven, who, sixty-four j^ears before, had assisted in 
making her a suit of sails, was again em})l()yed in the same 
service for her. Feb. 24, 1863, she was re})aired and sold at 
Talcahuana, Chili, under the name of "Maria Pachaco," and, 
under the Chilian flag, probably to avoid the risk of her capture 
by rebel cruisers, continued sailing in the Pacific until 1870. 
Her purchasers, INIessrs. Burton & Trumbull, of Talcahuana, 
employed her in the coal trade. July 1, 1866, she was 
fitted out for Talcahuana, on a whaling voyage, under command 
of David Brio-os, of Dai-tmouth, JNIass. At the time of her loss 
she was in such s^ood condition that she bade fair to outlast her 





c;^ct 



VESSELS BUILT BY CAPT. ICHABOD THOMAS. 173 

century. The flag she first wore is said to be in existence in 
New Bedford. The "Maria," then owned in Chili, was con- 
demned at Vancouver's Ishmd in 1872. Francis Rotch died in 
New Bedford, 1822. He was brother of Wm. Rotch. " AVni. 
Rotch was born in 1734, and was tiie greatest merchant that 
ever lived." (Sanford.) 

I have been unable to obtain definite information as to any 
of the other vessels built by Ichabod Thomas, Sr. , between 
1782 and 1788 ; but the following were built in Pembroke, and 
probably at the Brick Kiln Yard : 

1782. Sloop "SALEM PACKET," 42 tons, of Ipswich. 
1783. Sch. "DOLPHUS," 32 tons, of Boston. 1783. Sloop 
"DIANA," 51 tons, owned by Samuel and Amos Jones, and 
Ruth Eales, of Scituate. 1784. Brig't'n "CADET," 100 tons, 
of Boston. 1784. Sch. "HOPE," 55 tons, of Boston. 1786. 
Sloop "MARY," 22 tons. 1786. Sch. "JOHN," 60 tons, of 
Boston. 1786. Sch. "MARS," 53 tons, of Wellfleet. 1786. 
Sch. "NAUTILUS," 60 tons, of Boston. 1787. Sch. "PEG- 
GY," 37 tons; owner, John Soule, Marshfield. 1787. Sch. 
"AARON," 43 tons, owned by John Soule and John White, of 
Marshfield. 1787. Sloop " NANCY," 41 tons. This sloop was 
in existence in 1842, then fiftij-five years old., and was owned 
by John Reed, of Boothbay, Me. Mr. Thomas died in 1788, 
comparatively young, and was buried in the Thomas burial-lot 
in Pembroke, opposite Dr. Francis Collamore's. The follow- 
ing is copied from the headstone : 

" Erected in memory of 

Capt. Ichabod Thomas, 

Who was removed by death, March 2, 17S8, 

In the 55th year of his age. 

' The sweet remembrance of the just, 
Shall flourish while he sleeps in death.' " 

Another stone has — 

" Wm. Thomas died in 1802, age 27 years." 

Capt. Ichabod Thomas, son of Capt. Ichabod, lived in the 
same house that his father occupied, and worked in the ship-yard 
until he had passed three-score years. In July, 1820, his wife 
Polly Thomas, wrote to her daughter in Maine, Mrs. Joshua 
Perry : " Your pa is at work at the Yard every day, and en- 
joys his health." The record of his decease appears on a stone 



17 1 VKHHKLH I'.; 11,1 I'.V « AI'l. IIIOMAH AM> f'AI-VIN riH.'NKI!. 

ill lilt' I'rtllltl'olo' ( VliK'fciy, ulicrc. Iir, lic^ luilinl ill llir ,s;mim^ 

lot iiH IliM I'iiIIkt : 

" C'ipl. I( Ii;iIi<mI 'I'liMiniis, I >ir.| N<»v. I J, i'S5'j, in I lie (/>lli yen <>\' 
ITiH ;i!4C." 



'I'lir (irsl, vi'SHi'l of uliicli I line i,-t po-^ilivr idool" of lijiviii;^; 
Iktii liiiill, l.y lr|iiil,(><l,.Ir., wuh IIm; Scli. " I X )Ln II N," 4'J jon^, 
liiiilt ill 171»'.*, lit rciiilirokc. SI m-- win ((iiiiiiiiiiKlctl hy ('!i|)(, 
I'rincc Il<»\vcs, jiikI whm <'Ii«;)i;::c(I in hiMJin;.'. Ahonl, IM:^, hImi 
l>t-(iii;j;lil coin IVoiii Vii'/iiiiiti in (lio winli-r, iimi in (Ik; miiiiiiikt 
vvcnl. (i-tliiii!/. hiiriii;^ (li<^ \v;ir willi l*iii;.'liin(i, nnd wliilc iiikIit 
Mm? roiiiiii!iii(l of ('jipl. l'"Jis|i)i lIowcH, slio vvjih ciiiifiircd l»y ^\\^'. 
liiilisli (1<tI oil" I'ciiohscol, Kivcr, Mi-. Tlicy Look Iut new 
oiil, jiikI lowril licr od" )i\\ liilr ; Iml, Itcin^'; in IhiIIiihI,, iiimI of iiol, 
iiiiK'li viilii*', Hify ;;iiv('. Ikt ii|). ( 'ji|tl. I'rinrd IIow(!h' son iilhIc, 
oiM^ voyti^f, in Iht (o (lir SiniilH of llclhi IhIc. 

I.clwccn I7HH iind I HO."), ( 'nlviii 'I'liiinr, iiikIc of Icjinhod 
'^riioiiDiH, .Ir., Ixiilt iK'xl, (o liiiii, in lli<) hiihio ,yiii'(|, lli<^ I'ollow- 
iiifr, union;; ollirr v»-.sh<Im : l«()2. S<;li. "TV\'() FKIIONDS," 
HIHoMH, of Porlliiml, Ciilviii 'riinicr, iiuiMfn- cMipcnlcr ; Ittiiif, 
ill, i'cnil.rokc. 1H0;5, Sloop " V\\\l TLAV," f)!) (ohm, of Diix- 
Ixiry, iiricrvviif("lH of Sjiniislmry, ('iilviii 'riiincr, .Jr., iniislcr 
<-iir|M'ti<cr; Imill, iii I'.iiilnokr ." JHo:,. I'.ii;,' " A LMIKA ," I 7M 
loiiM, of lioslon, ( 'jilviii 'rmiK r, milkier ••■•ii pcnlcr ; rcnilirokr,. 
j«()7. Sell. "FAMIO," H;; Iohh, of J»ohIoii. 'lliiM vessel vviiH 
hnill hyC'nlviii 'riiiner, nf. Teiiiln'oke, nml w.'is ejiplined jiiid 
IhiiiiI l>y llie i^'reneli, in |S||. Tlie folio win;; vessels, linill. in 
l'eiiil)ioke helwei'M I 7HH mid I HO/"*, were pfol)!il»ly iMiill, l>y (hem 
nnd Aldeii l'.ri-;rs : I7.SS. Sell. " 1 1 A \\ A 1 1," i^ tons, of j'ly- 
inontli. I7.S!I. Uri^iTn "MAI.'V AW," 7M (oiis, <.f I'.oslon. 
17:10. Sloop " SA LLV ," owned liy Selli llnlcli, I'eiiiltroke. 
171)1. r.ri;.' "I'()I>LV," I'.l ioiiH", of I'.osO.n. I7:)2. S(^li. 
"UNION," 'l:i ((.iiH, of P.oslon. I7:i;;. SliM.p " LVDIA," 100 
1(.iis, of r.o(.llil)!iy, M<-. I7!M. SIo..p " DOMMIIN," 7H Ions, 
of liostoii; Idiill :il rcniltroke; owikmI l»y IoiImtI, iJ.'irker .-iiid 
Aldeli l>^i"•;,^s of I'enilnoke, Leliuiel ( liiircli iiiid Sleplicn Slork- 
l.rid;;e of^Seiln.-il.-, nnd olliern. 17!).'.. Ship "SAIJAII," ;;I0 
foils, of iS'evv r»edford, Mflerwiirds of I'.oslon. I7Im;. liii;;, 
jiflerwiirds Ship, " ALKX A N I )l":i:." i:;;}fons,of r.oston. I7:»7. 
Seh."()l>IVIO, 70 ioilH, of DiixImiiv. I.SOO. Sell. "VVASII- 
lI^(iT()N," 107 loriM, of r.os((,ii. lAoo. I'.ri;.r')"ii "'riflTON,'' 




VESSELS BUILT BY ICHABOD THOMAS AXD CALVIX TURNER. 175 

170 ton.^, of Boston. 1803. Sch. "LAUEEL/' 00 tons, of 
Duxburv. 1804. Ship ".AJlCTURrS," 300 tons, of Duxbury. 
1805. .Sch. "H.AN'XAH.'' 50 tons, of Plymouth. Calvin Tur- 
ner was brother of Joshua and son of Capt. Benjamin. Calvin 
had a son. 

a s h i p - 

C^ — builder. 

^^gw«^- v -.*- * *-v^- ^^/^'^-'^^'-^-t-*-*-)-''*''^' y who went 

^ to Med- 

ford ; also a son David, a ship-builder, who lived on the Bri^rfs 
farai, on the Xeck, m Pembroke, and who afterwards moved to 
Duxbury, where he died, leaving a family. Previous to 1805, 
Calvin Turner formed a partnership with his nephew, Ichabod 
Thomas, and built one vessel at the Brick Kiln durin2' the lat- 
ter year. 1805. Brig "OXLY SOX,'' 170 tons, Ebenezer 
Nickerson, of Provincetown ; owner, Calvin Turner ; Ichabod 
Thoma.5, master cai-penters ; built at Pembroke. They gave up 
buildinL' here about this time, and built in Hanover together, 
and aUo with Wm. Cushing.* The history of the succes.'^jrs 
of the Thomases, at the Brick Kiln Yard is given in the fol- 
lowing chapter. 



See Ch^ter Miscellaneoas Yards, ander Hanover. 




raoKii coiT 0? jiik-- 



CHAPTER XI. 



BRICK-KILN YARD, (Continued). 1796-1848. 



WILLIAM LEAVIS, ALDEN BRIGGS, ELTSHA BRIGGS, JONATHAN 
SAMSON, SAMUEL ROGERS, ISAAC HATCH, LUTHER BRIGGS, 
AARON S. MAGOUN, JR., ENOCH MAGOUN, JOSHUA MAGOUN, 
JEDUTHAN PALMER, BARKER TURNER, CALEB TURNER, GUSH- 
ING O. BRIGGS, SILVANUS SMITH, MELZAR S. TURNER. 

"X IZM. LEWIS, Alden and Elisha Brings, Jonathan Sampson, 
* * Sam'l Rogers and Isaac LLatch bui It in Pembroke about 1796 
and later. There were two yards at the Brick-kihis, and three 
or four vessels side by side on the stocks at the same time was 
not an unusual sight. Little can be found relative to Wm. 
Lewis. He probably came from the Marshfield family, as his 
name does not appear on the church or town records in Pem- 
broke. There is little doubt that he was the Wm. Lewis of 
Marshfield belonging to the following family ; 

William Lewis, mar. Christiana White, had children: 1. 
Christiana, b. April 11, 1774; 2. William, b. Feb. 29, 1777, 
mar. Welthy Sampson; 3. Catharine, b. March 9, 1779, 

d. Sept. 30, 1850; 4. Sarah, b. June 11, 1781, mar. 

Randall; 5. Daniel, b. May 5, 1784; 6. James Hawkes, b. 
May 1, 1786; 7. Samuel, b. May 4, 1788; 8. Jesse, b. Auff. 
14, 1790; 9. Elizabeth, b. June 24, 1795, d. May, 1874. 
Daniel Lewis, mar. Mercy Winslow, Jan. 21, 1768, no family ; 
he died Feb. 20, 1829, aged 87 years; his wife d. Dec. 15, 
1822, in her 82nd year. Taken from a family Bible supposed 
to have once been the property of Joseph Lewis, of Hingham, 
a graduate of Harvard College, 1705, and probably disposed of 
by his descendants, to Nath. Winslow of Marshfield. 



WILLIAM LEWIS, SHIP-BUILDER. 177 

Joseph and Sarah Lewis' children were: 1. Sarah, b. Dec. 
15, 1703 ; 2. Joseph, b. Oct. 1, 1705, died young; 3. Thomas, 
b. Sept. 20, 1707; 4. Paul, b. March 25, 1710; 5. James, b. 
Sept. 9, 1712; 6. Jonathan, b. Dec. 3, 1714; 7. Mary, b. 
Sept. fi, 1717 ; Sarah Lewis, the mother of these seven chil- 
dren, "was taken out of this world,'' Jan. 5, 1718. Joseph's 
children by a second marriage were: 1. Elizabeth, b. July 1, 
1719; 2. George, b. July 23, 1721; 3. Hannah, b. July 24, 
1723, d. Aug. 17, 1723 ; 4. Samuel, b. June 21, 1724, d. Oct. 
28, 1725 ; 5^ Jehiel, b. April 19, 1727, d. July; 6. Ebenezer, 
b. July 28, 1728 ; 7. Leab, b. Oct., 1730 ; 8. Hannah, b. Dec. 
1734; 9. another name illegible, May 11, 1736, probably 
Joseph. There is one report that Wm. Lewis went to 
Plymouth, and built one vessel, and finally moved to Matta- 
poisett. \A^hether the following item from an old account 
book belongs to the same family, we do not know : 

"June 3rd, 1S16. 

Capt. Saml. Tolman to Rogers Lewis Dr., to 10 tides labor on 
board of your ship at 4-6 — $7.50. Rec'd payment, 

Rogers Lewis." 

Certain it is that Wm. Lewis did build in Pembroke, (prob- 
ably at the Brick-kilns,) the following vessels, the first of which 
is described in a copy of his certificate, as follows : 

North River. Pembroke, Jan'y 30, 1796. 

This certifies that the Ship called the " HELEN" of Boston was 
built by me upon the North River in Pembroke and launch'd in 
December last part for James S. Lovell, Merchant of Boston. That 
she is square sterned has two Decks & three masts that Her Length 
is seventy-five feet her Breadth twentv-six & half feet her Depth 
seventeen & lialf feet measuring Two hundred & seventy-seven Tons 
and having a figurehead. 

The second and only other vessel found, built by him, was in 
1803, sch. "MAY FLOWER," of Plymouth, afterwards of 
Boston. 



178 BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 

KlisliM, Aldoii, and Luther Brig^s ])uilt hero al)()ut this time. 
Enos, Daniel, Tlionias, and Soth Briggs,the prominent buikiers 
of Sak^m and ]Milton, served their apprentkesliip here Mith 
their fathers and brothers, and often had to call on them to 
assist in special work on sonu^ of the noted vessels Avhich they 
liuilt after they left the little liriek-kiln yard. To better under- 
stand who this tamily was the following genealogy is given. 

/Se(/> Bn'fff/s, shipwright, was b. Aug. '2Si., ITL'l.at Scituate, 
and d. at Pembroke, July 2o, 1801. lie was the fifth child of 
James Briggs, who was b. March 2, 1083-4, and who mar. 1st, 
Eliza))eth (xarrett. May 7. 1718, and 2nd, Hannah Stoweli, 
(X-t. 4, 171(?. .lames ]>riggs was the third son of Ensign 
Cornelius l>riggs, who was the third son of Walter Rriggs, who 
a})i)ears in Scituate in ItUo. The date of the birth of Cornelius 
has not been found, but it is stated that at the time of his death, 
Oct. 20th, 1()!U, he was (i7 years of age. He mar., 1. Mary 
Doughty, dan. of James Doughty and widow (^f Samuel l\ussoll, 
^larch 20, 1(>77, by whom only, he had children. He mar. 
2nd, ISIehitable Amiable of Barnstable, May (i, 1083.* Seth 
Brigirs, mar. in 1745 Abiaail Church, who was b. in Scituate, 
FeCll, 1720, and d. Nov. 3, 171)"). They had children as 
follows: l.A'nos,h. July 21>. 174(5, d. at Salem, Oct. 10, 
181H :t 2. Sefh, h. Nov. 8, 1748 : 3. FhWni, b. Dec. 21. 1750, 
d. Sept. 10, 1830 ; 4. Daniel, b. April 14, 1754 ; 5. Nabby, b. 
July 1, 1750; 0. T/iomm, b. Aug. '22, 1758, and d. in 1809 : 
7. Marv, b. Mav 25. 1700, and d.^Sept. 3, 1834; 8. AJden. b. 
I\Iarch"l7, 1703; D. Judith, b. May 7. 1705; 10. Khoda. bap. 
Feb.. 1772. 

IJno,^, the tirst child of Seth, mar. Sarah, dan. of Edward 
and Kachel (Cushing) Thomas, who was b. in Pembroke, Feb. 
6, 1755, and d. in Salem, Dec. 9, 1833. Their children were : 
Sally, b. Oct. 25, 1778 ; died April i), 1850. Enos, b. March 
25, *1781 ; d. Oct. i», 1837. Samuel, b. Dec. 10, 1783 ; d. Nov. 
10, 1859. Judith, b. Am:. 20, 1780 : d. Sept. 3, 1830^ Polly, 
h. :\hirch 1, 1789; d. Maa'h 24, 1834. Betsey, b. March 19, 



* See Chapter on Briggs' Ship Yard. 

t The Saletu Gazette of Oct. 12. 1S19. thus notices his decease: "In this to^^n Mr. 
Enos Bnggs, aged 73, one of our most vahiable and worthy citizens. He came to this 
town from" Penibroke in the year 17!'l. and has been eminent as a master shipbuilder. 
!rom \vbose yard a great number of our liest ships have been launched. He was also 
the master builder of the frigate ' Essex,' the work of which did him great credit in the 
eves of the nation. In his death his family suifer a severe loss." (^Hist. Coll. of Essex 
liist. Vol 6.. pp. 171-174.) 



BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 179 

1792 ; d. Jan. 7, 1814. Rachel, b. Feb. 28, 1796 ; d. Sept. 
— , 1836. Sally, first child of Enos, mar. 1st, David Smith ; 
2nd, John Bott. Enos, son of Enos, mar. Lucy A. Morse, and 

had children : Lucy, mar. Sargent ; Susan, mar. 

Merriam ; Enos, Charles, Edward, Nathaniel, and one other, 
name unknown. Samuel, third child of Enos, mar. 1st, Susan 
Whittemore, Oct. 16, 1808 ; she d. Oct., 1810, aged 26 years. 
By her he had one child, Edward Thomas, b. Aug. 25, 1809 ; 
d. Nov. 25, 1815. He mar. 2nd, Mary S. Bowles, July 5, 
1818 ; she d. Nov. 16, 1853. By her he had children : Susan, 
b. May 20, 1820 ; d. March 20, 1822. Edward T., b. July 31, 
1824; d. May 20, 1882; mar., but left no children. Susan, 
b. April 22, 1830 ; mar. 1st, Wm. H. Clarke ; 2nd, George 
P. Farrington ; she is now a widow. INIary Eunice, b. Jan. 22, 
1832; d. July 21, 1832. Judith, fourth child of Enos, mar. 
George Deane. Polly (or Mary), fifth child of Enos, mar. 
Nathan Cook. Betsey, sixth child of Enos, d. unmarried. 
Each el, seventh child of Enos, mar. John Burleigh (or 
Burley) . 

Sftit, second child of Seth, mar. Deborah Barker, and had 

children : Seth, (who mar. , and had children. Sarah, 

who mar. Shook. Catharine, who mar. Woods ; 

and George C, who mar. Anne Loring, and had children, viz. : 
Annie Loring, who mar. George C. Briggs ; and Catharine, 
who mar. Henry P. Briggs). Deborah, who mar. Theoph. 
Gushing. 

Elisha, third child of Seth, mar., Nov. 20, 1777, Laurentia, 
dau. of Dr. Jeremiah and Elizabeth Bailey Hall, who was b. 
May 15, 1755, and d. June, 1837, they had children : Rhoda, 
b. March 4, 1779, mar. Calvin Turner. Elisha, b. 1781; 
d. about 1850 ; mar. twice. One wife's name was Sally Webb, 
and the other Margaret Doyle ; no children. Luther, b. Oct. 
20, 1783, at Pembroke; d. April 2, 1864. Lucinda, b. Dec. 
15, 1789 ; mar. Alden Loring. Laurentia, b. Sept. 20, 1792 ; 
mar. Horace Collamore. Robert, b. July 30, 1795, and d. in 
1859. Lucretia, b. Dec. 13, 1798, mar. Dion Bryant. 
Luther, son of Elisha, mar. 1st, March 27, 1812, Susan Stet- 
son, who was b. Nov. 29, 1784, and d. Oct. 19, 1832; 
2ndly, Mercy, widow of Aaron ]\Iagoun. His children were : 
Susan Stetson, b. July 26, 1813 ; mar. Nathaniel Smith. Sil- 
vina, b. July 6, 1816 ; mar. B. F. Chandler. Luther, Avho d. 
in infancy. Luther (another of that name) , b. July 24, 1822 ; 



180 ELISHA BRIGGS, SHIP-BUILDER. 

mar. Adeline Collamore ; no children. Alexander Parris, who 
d. in infoncy. Augusta, b. Aug. 7, 1827 ; mar. Royal Cheny. 
Robert, the son of Elisha, mar. Caroline Morton, March 11, 
1821. She is a descendant of George Morton of Plymouth, 
was b. May 30, 1796, and is still living. They had children, 
viz.: Robert, b. May 18, 1822; mar., 1st, Julia Kidder; 
2ndly, Louise Wagner ; no children. He resided in Philadel- 
phia, and is now deceased. Silas Morton, d. young. George 
Henry, who mar. Elsie Hollenbeck ; has two daughters and one 
son, and resides at Mountain View, Cal. Charles Edward, who 
mar., in 18(i9, Rebekah Whittaker, and has one daughter and 
three sons, and resides in St. Louis, Mo. Caroline, unmarried. 
Elizabeth, mar. Erastus Woithington of Dedham. Emma, 
mar. Henry Allen of AVest Roxbury. 

Daniel^ fourth child of Seth, mar. and lived in Milton. 
Nahhy, fifth child of Seth, mar. William Briggs, Nov. 29, 
1787. Thomas, sixth child of Seth, mar. Sukey Blake ; lived 
in Milton, and has no descendants. Man/, seventh child of 
Seth, mar., Oct. 8, 1788, Thomas Sproat "of Middleborough. 
Alden, eighth child of Seth, mar. Mercy Hatch, and had chil- 
dren, viz. : Sophia, who d. unmarried. Alden, mar. Eliza- 
beth Robinson. Harriet, b. Oct. 3, 1801 ; mar. J. H. Whit- 
man. Thomas, mar. Eliza Sturtevant, and had children, viz. : 
Alice, mar. Charles Cushing. Alden, mar. Elva Sampson. 

Judith, ninth child of Seth, mar. 1st, Drew ; 2ndly, 

Bill Vose. Rhoda, tenth child of Seth, did not marry. 

formerly resided where Na- 
thaniel Smith now resides, in 
Pembroke. About half way 
om Schooset Creek to the 



^ /y^^ residence of Nathaniel Smith, 



e^s 



*^ ^ is the foundation of what is 

supposed to have been an Indian wigwam ; and the traditions 
of Pembroke say that it was a kind of factory for the making 
of arrow and spear heads. At the depth of two feet it is paved 
with stone covered with charcoal dust mixed with the soil, sug- 
gesting the idea tliat it had been used for a fire-place for a long 
period. The great numl)er of arrow heads found in the imme- 
diate vicinity, also show that it must have been a fixed habita- 
tion for the red man in the days long gone by. It is situated 
on the western slope of the range of hills that forms the bound- 
ary of the Schooset valley, on the farm of Mr. Smith. Elisha 




-'4' 






VESSELS BUILT BY ELLSHA BRIGOS. 181 

always had a large numl)er of apprentices, and usually took two 
or three into his hospitable home. In 1800, he built the sch. 
" WASHINGTON," 100 tons ; sold to Alden Briggs. He built 
two vessels at the Brick Kiln, in Pembroke, in 1801. Brig'tn 
"CUMBERLAND," 183 tons, of Providence. 1801. Ship 
"ANNAWAN," 299 tons, of Boston ; two decks and three 
masts ; owned by Alden Briggs and others, Pembroke. Elisha 
Briggs built the next year, 1802, sch. "ELIZA," 41 tons ; 
owned by David Church, George Turner, Benjamin Whitman, 
Mercy Randall Alden, and Chas. Briggs. In 1803, he built the 
ship "MOSES MYERS," two decks and three masts, 306 tons, 
of Boston. In 1804, the sch. "LIVELY," 122 tons; Elisha 
and Alden Brio-gs, owners. Also in 1804, sch. "FIVE BRO- 
THERS," 93 tons, of Duxburv. Elisha Briggs also built the 
following vessels at the Brick Kiln : 1805. Ship "CANOWA," 
263 tons, of Boston ; owned ])y Thos. Briggs of Roxbury, and 
Alden Briggs of Pembroke , and others. 1806. Brig " NANCY," 
177 tons; built for Alden Briggs; afterward sold at Roches- 
ter. 1807. Ship "SUWARRdW," 303 tons, of Plymouth ; 
owned by Alden Brigos, Pembroke, and others. 1810. Ship 
"MISER," 304 tons, "of Boston. 1811. Ship "ACASTUS," 
343 tons, with two decks, three masts; length, 100 feet; 
breadth, 28 feet; depth, 14 feet; of Boston; owned by Alden 
Briofofs of Pembroke, Paul Nash of Petersburs:, Va., and others. 
Also" in 1811, sloop "SOPHIA," 35 tons." He and David 
Church, Daniel Phillips, Joseph Rogers of Marshtield, and 
Alden Briggs, owners. Alden Briggs was in partnership with 
Elisha in building some of the above vessels. Elisha after- 
wards built in Newburyport.* On a head-stone in the Pem- 
broke Cemetery is the following : 

" Elisha Briggs, son of Seth, died 1836, age 86." 

We will now leave the Briggs family for the present, and 
speak of the other ship-carpenters who built at this yard at the 
very beginning of the present century. 

^ _jA ^ built alter- 

y ^'^'2^t^2^'7t^-^;^^^>*^^^^r7'tnately in 

(^ C/ ^ Hanover and 

Pembroke, between the years 1800 and 1820. Of the vessels 



* See John Currier's " History of Shipbuilding on the Merrimac," at State House, 
t For further account of Jonathan Samson see the Bridge Yard at Hanover. 



182 JONATHAN SAMSON SAMUEL ROGERS. 

he built in Pembroke, accounts of the following have been 
found: 1801. Ship "PEMBROKE," 193 tons, of Boston; 
owned by Nathl. Cushing of Pembroke, Robert Salmond of 
Hanover, and others ; built at Pembroke ; Jonathan Sampson, 
builder. Capt. E. A. Faucon, of Milton, remembers seeing 
the " Pembroke " lying at Lloyd's or Wales' Wharf, on Sea, 
now Federal street, Boston, many years ago. 1803. Sch. 
"WASHINGTON," 70 tons, of Boston, was built at Pembroke 
by Jonathan Sampson, master carpenter. 1810. Ship "MAR- 
THA," 273 tons, of Bost(m ; owned by Nathl. Cushing, of 
Pembroke, and others ; built at Pembroke by Jonathan Samp- 
son, master carpenter ; afterward sold to Nantucket, and used 
as a whaler. During her first voyage in the Pacific, whaling, 
under Capt. Reuben Weeks, 1815-17, she was detained tw^enty 
days at Valparaiso, and part of her crew placed on a patriot 
armed vessel for a short cruise. In 1821, the "Martha," then 
under Ca})t. J. H. Pease, rescued the crew of the ship "Two 
Brothers," Capt. Pollard, of Nantucket, which was lost in the 
Pacific on a coral reef in Lat. 24° N., Long. I(i8° W. About 
1841, Capt. Baxter left the " Mailha " at Zanzibar, and R. C. 
Gibbs took command. In 1849, she was owned by Peter Fol- 
ger, of Nantucket, and still used Avhaling in the Pacific. She 
was broken up by the Chinese in San Francisco, Cal., in 1851. 
Jonathan Samson built in Hanover, in 1803, the sch. "WIL- 
LIAM," 71 tons. 

In 1801, Samuel Rogers, of Marshfield,* was master carpen- 
ter of a vessel built here, as follows : 1801. Ship " JEFFER- 
SON," 2()7 tons, of Boston. This vessel was afterwards a New 
Bedford whaler. 

In 1804 Aaron S. Magoun, Jr., built a large sLip at this 
yard. An old ship's carpenter whose memory at nearly ninety 
years of age seems very clear, gives the following information 
about the Magouns. He says that Aaron S. Magoun lived in a 
house now occupied by John Stetson, at the end of a lane 
opposite the Quaker Meeting House, Pembroke. He had, 
among other children, three sons, Aai-on, Robei-t, and Daniel, 
one of whom was Lorenzo Sherman's wife's father. One of the 
daughters married Jonathan Stetson. Aaron S. ^Magoun, Jr., 
lived in a house down the lane, opposite Nath'l Smith's, Pem- 
broke, and with Robert built a vessel just after the war of 1812> 



& 



* See Rogers' Yards, Marshfield, and Wautou's, Scituate. 



MAGOUN & HATCH. 183 

on the Pembroke side, opposite Seabury's Point, which ruined 
Robert financially, he being the principal owner. Robert 
Magoun married a Bates. Aaron S. Masfoun, Jr. , left sons: 
Robert, Daniel and others. In 1804, the ship "XENOPHOX," 
299 tons, was built in Pembroke, by Aaron S. Magoun, Jr., 
and owned in Plymouth. Joshua jMagoun of Duxbury was a 
ship-builder and probably built in Duxbury. He had two sons, 
Enoch and Joshua, who built in Pembroke at the Brick-Kilns, 
Enoch in company with Turner & Palmer, and Joshua in com- 
pany with Isaac Hatch, and alone. There was built here in 
1804, the sch. " NEUTRALITY," 123 tons, of Duxbury. Capt. 
Phineas Sprague , of Duxbury. Joshua Magoun and Isaac Hatch 
were the master carpenters. In 1808 was built the ship "]\IIX- 
ERVA,"223 tons, at Pembroke, owned by Ezra Weston, Jr., 
Duxbury, Calvin Sampson, Joshua Magoun and others, Pem- 
broke. These are the only vessels it has been possible to locate 
as having been built by Joshua Magoun in Pembroke, though 
he later went to Charlestown and there built with Francis 
Turner, son of Charles, formerly of Scituate, under the firm 
name of Magoun & Turner. He died leaving a family in 
Charlestown. Two of his children were named Winchell and 
Phillip. When in Pembroke he lived at " Brimstone Corner ;" 
his fother's name was Joshua. 

We will now take up theBriggs family again. Alden Briggs, 
as before stated, built in partnership with his brother Elisha 
many of the vessels before mentioned. After Elisha removed 
to Newburyport, Alden continued building at the Brick-Kilns 
for himself and in company with others. He lived a little way 
up Brick-Kiln Lane, not far from the ship yard in the house 
recently owned and occupied by Mr. Foster, but now occupied 
by H. N. Magoun, a descendant of the Thatchers Magoun. 
Alden Briggs also engaged in farming and making bricks, 
obtaining the clay from large pits back of his house. Just 
beyond, on the bank of the river, lives his grandson, Alden 
Briggs, 3rd, in the house formerly occupied by Alden Briggs, 
Jr. 

Sen., was a very interest- 
ing old man. He had a 
peculiarity of adding from 
year to year, by compound 
interest, to the original cost of his possessions, so that each year 
he valued his properties higher and higher instead of depreciating 




184 VESSELS BUILT BY ALDEN BEIGGS. 

them, as most people would do. For instance he valued his watch 
at one time at over $2000, and his anvil at about $1500. In the 
same way his losses would grow larger and larger each year, as 
he would reckon up the compound interest on the sum or con- 
tract that he originally lost. He was leader of the new choir of 
the church in Pembroke. Previous to this time, the Deacon 
ahva}'s read two lines, which the congregation sang, then the 
Deacon would read two more. The minister wished a new 
choir that would sing the whole verse or psahn, which the old 
choir objected to. The minister got the old choir in one part 
of the church by themselves, and the new choir together in 
another part ; he then let the Deacon read the first two lines, 
and the old and new choirs started. The old choir stopped at 
the end of the two lines and the new choir kept on, but not to 
be outdone the Deacon got up and commenced reading two 
more lines, amid the singing ; the Minister reached over the 
pulpit and spoke to his son, the Deacon, saying, " Sit down Cy, 
sit down," and the new choir prevailed. Alden Briggs was in 
the North Company, 2nd Reg., 1st Brig., 5th Div., Pembroke 
Militia, 1815. In the year 1800 he built the brig "PALLAS," 
156 tons, for Stephen Gorham of Boston. In 1805, he built a 
s/n'p of 250 tons. His yard was just below that of his brother, 
Luther Briggs. The sch. "RIVAL," was built by Alden Briggs, 
and probably the brig " ELVIRA," of New Bedford, which 
was condemned at St. Thomas, in 1859. In 1818 he built the 
brig "FLORIDA," 244 tons, owned by Thos. B. Wales, Bos- 
ton, and in 1820 the In-ig "PEMBROKE," 199 tons, owned by 
her builder, Alden Briggs, at Pembroke. He sold her to Thos. 
B. Wales & Co. about two years after he built her, and the fol- 
lowing are some of the voyages she made : brig " Pembroke," in 
1824, from Sicily to Buenos Ayres with oil and wines; from 
Palermo in 182() with merchandise ; in 1827 from Rochelle with 
brandy, ochre and wine ; in 1833, to Rotterdam with a mixed 
cargo. She was lost at sea in 1851. In 1825 the brig 
" MONUMENT," 211 tons, was built by Alden Briggs at Pem- 
broke for himself. This brig was also sold to Thos B. Wales 
& Co., Boston, and the following are some of the voyages made 
by her; ship "Monument," 211 tons, 89 ft. long, in 1827 sailed 
to Amsterdam; in 1831, from Charleston to Cowe's, etc., and 
from New York to Marseilles. In 1832 the brig " ALEX- 
ANDRIA," 206 tons, of Boston, was built at Pembroke, prob- 
ably by Alden Briggs. The last of his vessels of which any 
account appears, was built the same year, 1832, the brig " OLD 



ENOS BRIGGS. 185 

COLONY," 244 tons, Joshua Smith, master, and owned by 
Alden Briijafs, at Pem])roke. She was afterward sold to Thos. 
B. Wales & Co. and made voyages in 1834, from Alexandria to 
Amsterdam with tobacco, fustic, etc. ) and from New Castle 
with coal ; in 1835, Charleston to Hamlnirg, with rice ; in 1836, 
from New Orleans with cotton and from Charleston to Ham- 
burg ; in 1837, New Orleans to Liverpool ; in 1840, Havana to 
Cowe's for orders, etc. Chas. Howard, of Pembroke, who was 
born Feb. 23, 1810, is now living, in quite feeble health, but 
remembers working in the old ship-yards and on the brigs 
" Pembroke " and " Old Colony." Alden Briggs was getting on 
in years and prol)ably gave up active business life about this 
time, although he was later a large owner in a great number of 
vessels built on the river, as the registers of vessels built in the 
different yards show. The followins' is taken from the grave- 
stones in a Pembroke cemetery, opposite Dr. F. Collamore's : 
"Alden Briggs, son of Seth, died May, 1849, age 86." 
" Wm. T. Briggs, died July 4, 1S73, age 40 years, 9 mos." 
"Alden Briggs, born Feb. 20, 1797, died April 30, 1861, aged 
64 yrs." 

The latter Alden was son of Alden ; William Thatcher Briggs 
was son of Alden and Elizabeth C. (Robinson). Although it 
may appear l^y record that Alden Briggs did not build a very 
large number of vessels here, it is easily explained when one 
sees the amount of work he was doing elsewhere. He was 
especially in demand at jNlilton and Salem by his brothers, Enos 
and Daniel. AVhen the Essex was built in Salem they had no 
good iron workers nearer than the North River, so they sent 
for Alden Briggs who was an expert, (being considered one of 
the best iron workers of his day,) to go down and do the 
iron work. Enos Briggs built the frigate '^ESSEX," in 1798-99. 
From an old paper the following is taken : 

"The Salem Frigate. Take Notice. Ye Sons of Freedom! all true 
lovers of the Liberty of your Country step forth, and give your assistance 
in building the Frigate, to oppose Frencli insolence and i^iracy. Let every 
man in possession of a White OaJi Tree, be ambitious to be foremost in 
hurrying down the timber to Salem, and fill the complement waiting, 
where the noble structure is to be fabricated, to maintain your rights vipon 
the Seas, and make the name of America respected among the nations of 
the world. Your largest and longest trees are wanted, and the arms of 
them for Knees and Rising Timber. Four trees are wanted for the Keel, 
which all together will measure 146 feet in length, and hew 16 inches 
square. Please to call on the Subscriber, who wants to make contracts for 
large or small quantities, as may suit best, and will pay the Ready Cash. 



Salem, Nov. 23, 1788- 



^(Tiri ^/ ^<W^^^ 



186 DANIEL BRIGGS. 

The frigate ''Essex "was of 32 guns. Messrs. Derby and 
Gray subscribed $10,000 each. In six months, or a little over, 
they had her completed for launching. There was a great con- 
course of spectators, and the heartfelt satisfaction of the be- 
holders of the launching of this beautiful ship was evinced by 
the concording shouts and huzzahs of thousands. The paper 
goes on to say, that "the unremitting zeal of Mr. Briggs, the 
architect, cannot be too highly applauded, and for bringing her 
into such a state of perfection, in so short a time, entitles him 
to the grateful thanks of his country." While Elisha Briggs 
was at work on the " Essex," Gen. George Washington, then in 
Salem, visited the yard. Gen. Washington took a tree-nail 
from Elisha, and helped build the vessel by driving it into its 
place. Enos Briggs also built the ship "Amethyst," 247 tons, 
in 1801, and a great many other vessels later. On May 3, 
1789, Enos Briggs launched a vessel sideways from Derby's 
Wharf, Salem. It was a novelty which drew together a great 
concourse of people. On May 18, 1791, the ship " Grand 
Turk," 564 tons, was launched at Salem. Enos Briggs was 
the principal architect. His ship-yard was located in South 
Salem. Between 1791 and 1818 he built over fifty vessels, the 
largest being 850 tons, the smallest 96.* 

moved from 
Pem]>roke to 
Milton, and 
^/"^^'^^^j^^^^ -^ occupied a 
large house 
built by Abel 
AUyne, where a double cottage now stands. It was pur- 
chased and added to by John M. Forbes. Thomas S. Briggs 
built a house, in 1830, on the site of Capt. O. W. Peabody's 
residence, Milton. The "History of Milton" states that "Mr. 
Joseph Blake, a merchant of Boston residing a part of the time 
in Milton, employed Mr. Daniel Briggs, of Pembroke, to build 
a vessel for him at the ship-yard in Milton, which was launched 
Oct. 26, 1786." This was the beginning of an extensive busi- 
ness in ship-building, continued by Mr. Briggs until 1815. 
Sept. 30, 1788, there was launched in Milton a large vessel 
built by Daniel Briggs for Ebenezer Wales, Esq., of Dorches- 
ter. " Some of our citizens now living remember the ' Kanawah,' 




7/ 



* For a list of these vessels, see Historical Collections of Essex Institute, Vol. VI., 
pp. 172 and 173. 



DANIEL BRIGGS. 187 

the ']\Iilton,' and the 'Jane,' and were present at their 
launching. Capt. Nat. Thomas,* from Pembroke, who married 
Jennie, the dau2:hter of Capt. Briijo's, lived in the Briffors house 
on Milton Hill. He was commander of the 'Kanawah,' and 
also of the ' Milton.' The Milton was caucfht in Neponset 
Bridge, on her way to Boston, and was got through w^th diffi- 
culty. This vessel, though built seventy- four years ago, is a 
New Bedford whaleship, still afloat." Daniel Briggs also built 
the following vessels in Milton: 1798. Sloop "John,"' 23- 
tons, of Milton. 1805. Brig "Osprey," 197 tons, of Boston. 
1806. Ship "President Adams," 313 tons, of Boston. 1810, 
Ship "Alert," 376 tons, of Boston. 1810. Ship " Jane," spoken 
of above, 326 tons, of Boston ; owned by Alden Briggs, of 
Pembroke, and Daniel Brisfgs, master carpenter, of Milton. 
1811. Ship "Huntress," 395 tons, of Boston. 1815. Ship 
"Milton," spoken of above, 387 tons, of Boston, owned by 
Nathl. Thomas, of Milton, and others, and Daniel Briggs, mas- 
ter carpenter. The following is taken from the " History of 
Milton"; "Capt. Briggs was a man of large frame, stately 
and commanding in person, also genial and benevolent in like 
degree. The following incident shows the humor of the man : 
On one occasion, when busy in his ship-yard, a stranger came 
up, asking for work. ' What can you do ? ' inquired the Cap- 
tain. ' I am a ship-carpenter,' was the reply. 'Can you make 
a tree-nail on a rock without dulling your axe?' 'Yes, sir.' 
' Well, here is your timber, and here is a sharp axe ; let's see 
you do it.' He went to work, finished the tree-nail, passed it 
to Mr. Briggs for inspection, and asked if that would do. Mr. 
Briggs, viewing the excellence of the work, assented, when the 
man raised his axe and struck a heavy blow upon the rock, 
breaking the edge, and nearly ruining the tool. 'What are 
you about?' exclaimed the excited captain. The workman 
replied, ' My master always taught me, when I had finished a 
job, to stick my axe in the block.' 'All right,' rejoined the 
mollified captain ; 'throw off your coat and go to work.' Mr, 
Briggs died in Milton, Aug. 11, 1825. He was a useful and 
excellent citizen, honored and respected by all. At the time 
of his death he owned the land on the east side of ]\Iilton Hill, 
between Adams street and the foot of the hill, from the Russell 
land to the old Kinsley estate, including the Peabody and the 
old Foy estates, exce])t the Swift, now Tappan lot. His daugh- 



* See preceding Chapter for account of the Thomases. 



188 THE BRIGGS BROTHERS. 

ter, Alice C, bom in Milton, April 2, 1802, married Capt. 
Charles Taylor, of Milton, April 2S, 1833." She died al^out 
1889, aged S(y. The following account of the famous ship 
" jNIassachuselts," from "Amasa Delano's Voyages," is given to 
show how high the standard of our ship-builders was, and their 
reputation abroad, viz. : 

"The ship ' Massachusetts ' was built at Qtiincy and launched 
Sept., 1789, for Shaw & Randall. The contractor was Eli Hayden of 
Braintree, the draughtsman, Capt. Wm. Hackett of Amesbury on 
the Merrimack. She was of 900 tons, built expressly for Canton 
trade, was brought to Boston under jury masts, and was the largest 
ship built at that time in the United States. She excited consider- 
able sensation in the commercial part of the community, and parties 
of people in every rank of society came on board of her to gratify 
their curiosity, and express their admiration. Five French men-of- 
war were then in the harbor, and their officers often visited the 
'Massachusetts' and gave her great praise. She was pierced for 36 
guns, but her armament consisted of 20 six-pounders, and musketry. 
Her crew consisted of 61 men. Capt. Amasa Delano w'as second 
officer. He was born in Duxbury, Feb. 21, 1763, on the North side 
of Blue River. His father was Sam'l Delano : his uncle Amasa. 
In 1772 the family removed to Braintree, where his father attended 
to ship-building, but they remained here only about two 3'ears, when, 
owing to the interruption of navigation occasioned by the disputes 
between Great Britain and the Colonies, they returned to Duxbury. 
Capt Amasa went to sea at a very early age, but about 17S2 com- 
menced laboring with his father, ship-building at Duxbury, some- 
times being the master builder. His first voyage as commander was 
in a schooner belonging to his uncle, Joseph Drew. He sailed from 
Duxbury in 17S6. His brothers have been master builders, riggers, 
and navigators of ships. His brother, Sam'l Delano, was carpenter 
on board the 'Massachusetts,' and while on a voyage with Amasa 
in the ' Perseverence,' he built a small vessel, the ' Pilgrim,' with 
which he explored, and discovered the Pilgrim Islands, in the Pacific 
in 1S05. Thos. Lunt of Portsmouth, N. H. and Prospect Carpen- 
ter of Pembroke, Mass., were seamen on board the 'Massachusetts.' 
Job Prince, Esq., of Boston, was her commander, and John Prince, 
his son, was a mid-shipman. The ' Massachusetts ' was sold to the 
Danish East India Co., at Canton, for $65,000, Dec. 4th, 1790- The 
name of the master builder of the ' Massachusetts,' was Daniel 
Briggs. Capt. Delano says ' he was one of the best men I ever 
kuew to keep a large company of men at work, and to make their 
labor productive.' He writes : ' The family of Briggs in Pembroke, 
Plymouth county, was celebrated for extraordinary merit. There 
were five brothers. Elisha continued in his native town an excellent 
ship builder. Alden was brought up a blacksmith, was remarkable 
for the talents he showed in the heavy work of a ship, was the 



TURNER, PALMER & MAGOUN. 189' 

mechanic employed for the ' Massachusetts ' in this department, 
and afterwards became a merchant. Enos is a sliip builder at Salem, 
and built the Essex frigate. Daniel united mercantile speculations 
with ship building, and has lived many years in Milton. Thomas 
was educated a ship builder also, went to sea afterwards as captain, 
transacted business as a merchant in Boston for many years, and 
died in Dorchester in 1S09, beloved and respected by all who knew 
him. The five brothers were employed upon the 'Massachusetts.' 
It would not be proper for me to say here all that I know and feel 
in praise of this family.' The other mechanics were generally from 
the North River, County of Plymouth, and were faithful in the per- 
formance of their duties. The ship was as well built as any ship 
could be under the circumstances. The timber was cut, and used 
immediately while perfectly green. It was white oak, and would 
have been very durable had it been docked, or properly seasoned. 
Notwithstanding the unprepared state of the materials, the ' Massa- 
chusetts' was so well built, that on her arrival at Batavia and Canton 
the commanders of English, Dutch, and other European ships were 
continually coming on board to examine her and to admire the 
model and the work. She was acknowledged to be the handsomest 
vessel in the two ports." — Delano' s Voyages. 

Luther Briggs was the last member of this family who built 
in Pembroke. 8eth Briggs, a great-grandfether of Luther 
Briggs, Jr., learned his trade of Capt. Benj. Turner. Calvin 
Turner was son of Captain Benjamin ; he had a son, Calvin,, 
who went to Medford. 





was building vessels in Medford on the Medford River in 1807. 
Joshua Turner was also a son of Capt. Benjamin, and married a 
daughter of Joshua Briggs, brother of Seth Briggs. We will 
take up Luther Briggs in connection with otiier ship-l)uilders 
and by himself later, and now look into the business done here 
by others about this time. Turner, Palmer, d* Magoun built 
separately at this yard before going over to the Hanover side, 
where they built in partnership.* Luther Briggs was also a 
member of the firm at one time as his old account books show. 
Jeduthan Palmer built here alone in 1816, the ship "SUF- 
FOLK," 314 tons of Boston. 



For full account of this firm see Bridge Yards. 



190 PALMER GENEALOGY. 

GENEALOGY OF JEDUTIIAN PALMEr's FAMILY.- 

Jeduthan's father was Ephraim, who died Jan. 10, 1797. His 
mother was Desire Oldham who survived herhusl)and and mar. 
2ndly, in 1798, tlie father of Benjamin Pratt. The house where 
Jeduthan was born, h)cated on the Drinkwtiter road, (now 
Hanover St.,) was puroliased l\v his father, Ephraim, March 7, 
1782. Jeduthan mar. Sarah the daughter of Calvin Turner 
April 25, 1811, and died in 1860. Sarah his wife died in 1872. 
The children of Jeduthan and Sarah Turner Palmer were : 1. 
Chaeles, b. 1812. 2. Sakah, b. Dec. 5, 1814, died 1889. 
She mar. Samuel P. Brackett in 1847, and they had three chil- 
dren : Sarah, b. 1848 ; Fred, b. 1850 ; Mary Cora, b. 1858 ; 
the last child only, is living. 3. Jeduthan, b. Jan. 25, 1817, 
d. a1)out 1833, unmarried. 4. Mary Ann Turner, b. Oct. 
26, 1819, mar. in 1847, X. P. Banks, Jr. They have had four 
children: Harry Waltham, b. 1848, d. 1853 ; Mary Binney, b. 
1852, mar. in 1880 Eev. Paul Sterling; Joseph F., b. 1855; 
Maude; h. 1857, all are living excepting Harry AV. 5. 
Amanda F., b. Nov. 6, 1822, d. in 1845, unmarried. 6. Alice 
W., b. July 26, 1825, mar. Emory Seaman, by whom she had 
four children, Julia, Alice, Emery and Mary; only Alice is 
living. 7. William T., b. Dec. 6, 1827. 8. Daniel T., b. 
July 27, 1830. 9. Julia O., b. Dec. 4, 1833, mar. in 1867 
Charles Edward Bulkley, and they have one child, Charles. 

Most of the vessels built by Turner, Palmer & Magoun were 
for Baker & Hardy, and Charles Cole of Boston, and for Scit- 
uate Harbor parties. Barker Turner was a son of Nathaniel, of 
So. Scituate, and built at So. Scituate, now Norwell, at the 
Copeland & Ford Yard, at Fox Hill, until alwut 1820, when he 
went into partnership with Luther Briggs, at the Brick Kilns, 
where Mr. Turner did the drafting of the vessels. 

TURNER genealogy. 

Capt. Benjamin Turner, of Pembroke, mar. 1st, 



dau. of Kev. Mr. Eells, of Scituate. 2ndly, Ruth Briggs, of 

Pembroke. He had by his first wife two children : 1. , 

who mar. a Mr. Lane, of Scituate. 2. David, of Plymouth. 

/''Pf-' ^ - 9 the ship-builder, was 

y^ Q /^ A ^ son of Nathaniel, 

C^^y^A-A-^ C^AZ'C<,^'*-^T_,.c^ who was a son of 
Capt. Benjamin by his second wife. Nathaniel Turner mar. 






^:cv/-^1a„ C>^^-''^''*1^-U^-^ 



TURNER GENEALOGY. 191 

Lucinda . lied. Nov. 19, 1814, aged 81 ; she d. Dec. 11, 

1807, aged 67. They had children as follows: 1. Christo- 
pher, d. in Salem. 2. Caleb, mar. Deborah Turner, and had 
six children, Myra, Jane, William, Temperance, Joseph G., 
and ^A'arren. Caleb d. in Bridgewater. 3. Benjamin, mar. 

Wheeler. They had five children, Ambrose, Lydia, 

Joseph M., Charles, and Ruth. 4. Barker, the ship-builder. 
The genealogy of his family is given below. 5. Polly, 
mar. John Bassett, of Hingham, and they had two children, 
John and Caleb. 6. Lucy, mar. John Thomas, of Marshfield, 
and they had three children, Henry, Ray, and Ann. Barker, 
the fourth child of Nathaniel, mar. Polly, dau. of Melzar and 
Lucy W. Stoddard, of Scituate. Melzar d. April 19, 1839, 
aged 79. Lucy W., his wife, d. July 6, 1850, aged 88. 
Polly, wife of Barker Turner, d. Aug. 4, 1835, aged 48. 

CHILDREN OF BARKER AND POLLY TURNER. 

1. Barker, b. Feb. 1(3, 1808 ; mar. Sophia Baker, of Pem- 
broke. They had five children, Edwin, Israel H., Polly, 
Frederick, and Augustus. 2. Mary, b. June 23, 1809 ; d. 
Aug. 1, 1819. 3. Elmina, b. Nov. 16, 1811; d. March 2, 
1842. She mar. Eben AVitherell, of Pembroke, and they had 
two children, Augustine and E})en Herbert. 4. Andrew, b. 
Aug. 13, 1812 ; mar. Hannah Bell, of Boston, and they had 
two children, Susan L. and Andrew W. o. Delia, b. Nov. 
26, 1^13 ; mar. Calvin Baker, of Pembroke, and they had six 
children, Calvin L., Andrew H., Delia T., D. Webster, Bar- 
ker, and Walters. 6. Huldah L., b. Nov. 20, 1816; mar. 
Joseph R. Sheperd, of Pembroke, and they had three chil- 
dren, Joseph J., Julius R., and Huldah T. 7. Isaiah Alden, 
b. Oct. 25, 1818 ; mar. Mary Childs, of Hingham, and they 
had two children, Alden D. and Elmer E. 8. Cyrus, b. Feb. 
20, 1821 ; mar. Mary A. Baker, of Pembroke, and they had three 
children, Eliza (who d. young), Morris, and Anna. 9. Susan, 
b. March 13, 1824; mar. Walter B. Studley, of Rockland, 
Mass., and they have had two children, Susan L. and Addie. 
10. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 21, 1828 ; d. Jan. 27, 1828. 11. Ed- 
ward Everett, b. Sept. 17, 1831-; mar. Elizabeth Sturtevant, 
of Pembroke, and they have had two children, Ella and 
Charles. 

Barker Turner and Luther Briggs built in Pembroke, in 
1824, sch. •■ VIRGINIA," (y2 tons, of Boston. They also built 
the sch. "CHARLES," in Pembroke, in 1825, G2 tons, owned 



192 VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD. 

by Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., Isaiah Alden, Charles Vinal, and 
Gushing Otis, of Scituate. She was built of green plank 
brought from Bridgewater. Cyrus Turner worked on her at 
Hingham in 1848. The same year, 1825, Barker Turner built 
on his own account the sch. "JUNO," 85 tons, for Noble E. 
Jenkins, Moses Rich, Elisha Foster, Jr., Isaiah Alden, Cush- 
ing Otis, John Beal, and Peleg Jenkins, of Scituate; after- 
ward sold to Gloucester. In company with Luther Brisks, he 
built, in 1827, the brig "TENEDOS," 245 tons, of Boston. 
In 1840 she was bought by Lawrence & Co., New London, 
Conn., and sent whaling in the So. Atlantic. In 1844, while 
in the Indian Ocean, Churchill, the first mate, was injured by 
falling off a water cask, and died iii 1847. In 185(>, the 
" Tenedos " was one of the "Stone Fleet," No. 1. Barker Tur- 
ner also built alone, at the Brick-kilns, in 1827, the sch. "JAMES 
OTIS," 80 tons, owned by Geo. Manson, Anthony AVaterman, 
Peleg and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., John Beal and Jesse Dunbar, of 
Scituate ; commanded by Capt. Manson in 1820, engaged fish- 
ing summers, and in the coasting trade winters.* This schooner 
was of perhaps the poorest model of any ever built on the 
river. When launched, it was almost impossible to make her 
sail. She would act like a tub at sea, which she resembled 
somewhat. She was always known as " Barker Turner's tool- 
chest." For several years, about this time, Mr. Turner a})pears 
to have been building on his own account. In 1828, the sch. 
"DANUBE," 71 tons, was built by Barker Turner, master car- 
penter, at Pembroke, and owned by Howland Otis, Peleg Jen- 
kins, Jas. Damon, J. Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., Seth AVebl), John 
Beal, Simecm Litchfield, and Francis G. Chubbuck, of Scituate. 
She was afterward sold to Cape Cod. In 1829, he built the 
sch. "RAILWAY," 86 tons, Pembroke; Jesse Dunbar, Sr. 
and Jr., and Thos. L. Manson, Scituate, owners. In 1830, the 
sch. "PERFECT," fi8 tons, of Pembroke ; owners, Isaiah Alden, 
Colman Jenkins, Sr. and Jr., Geo. M. Allen, Thos. Burroughs, 
of Scituate, and Horace Collamore of Pembroke ; afterward 
sold down East. Also, in 1830, he built the sch. " ELIZA 
ANN," 99 tons, of Boston. In 1831, the brig "VERGES," 
151 tons, of Boston. The following year he again built a ves- 
sel in company with Luther Briofgs, 1832, the bark "MI- 
RANDA," 189 tons, of Boston, the last vessel Barker Tur- 
ner built in Pembroke, of which we have any account, was in 



* See account Capt. Manson, under Fox Hill Yard. 




■I 2: 

< .E 

< 5 



VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD. 193 

1833, the kirk "LEONID AS," 183 tons, of Boston. He had 
during the past few years been l)uildinu:; in Hanover, also, and 
})rol)al)ly decided to take all of his business over there about 
this time. From his sons, Barker, Andrew, Aldcn, and Cyrus, 
much information has been gleaned. Cyrus says his father told 
him that he had built thirty-two vessels on North River, liarker 
Turner, Jr., died since the compiling of this vohime was begun. 
Among the characters of his time, located here, none were better 
known or more popular than Tom Briggs, of Pc^mbroke. He 
was an excellent workman and ship-carpenter of those chiys ; 
but he preferred nmsic and excitement rather than work. He 
was a skillful bugler, and his widow, who now lives in Dor- 
chester, has the Inigle which he formerly played. At one time 
he decided to go to Mexico, with Elijah Laphain, but the 
scheme fell through. He and Horace Collamore used to joke 
each other whenever an opportunity presented. Thomas Briggs 
was b. in 1803, and d. in 187(5. 

To ao back to 1815, we find Caleb Turner building a vessel 
at the" lirick-kilns, the ship " LAURA ANN," 5'75-| tons, 
of Boston. Her length was 103 feet; breadth, 28 feet; 
de})th, 14 feet. She was owned by David Greenough and Sam- 
uel Parkman, Jr., of Boston, and Alden Briggs, of Pembroke. 
She was the largest vessel built at the Brick-kiln Yard. Caleb 
proba1)ly did not build many vessels here, as in 1)S18 we find 
him at the Fox Hill Yard, in Norwcll, building with his brother 
Barker. 



(£ci4Jt^ ^ ^--^fci, 



built here in 1815-1 (5, the 
•st vessels he built on 
(y his own account.* He 

left his home in Scituate and came to Pembroke, apprenticed to 
P^lisha Briggs, a relative, both being descendants of Walter. 
Cushing having served his time and become of age, and being 
a skilled artisan, built at the Brick-kilns, in 1815, the brig 
"PERSEVERANCE" of 184 tons, with two decks, two masts, 
length, 78 feet; breadth, 23 feet; depth, 11 feet; of Boston, 
Thos. Snow, master. Owned by Elijah Loring, Joshua Ellis 
and Robert Thompson, of lioston. And in 1<S1B, the brig 
"ANN," 204 tons, with a billet figure head, a double decker with 



*For account of Cushing O. Briggs, see Briggs Yards at Hobart's Landing-, Scituate. 



194 LAST SI1IP-BUILUI>'G IN TEMBnOKE. 

two masts ; length, S6 feet: l)readth, 23 feet; depth, 11 feet, 
of Boston. Innnediately after this he went to Scituate, where 
we find him building at Hobart's landing. The following sketch, 
written by an old resident of Pembroke, gives a good idea of 
the last of shi[)-building at Pembroke : "The name of Briggs 
seems to be identified with ship-building from the early settle- 
ment of Scituate. Whether Walter, the elder, was a ship- 
builder, we are not able to say, but that many of his posterity 
followed that vocation successfully has come within the mem- 
ory of many now living. Luther Briggs, the subject of this 
sketch, was the son of Elisha, and grandson of Seth, who 
removed from Scituate to Pembroke early in the last century, 
having a large family, several of whom followed the occupation 
of their father. Luther learned the art of ship-1)uilding of his 
father and was apprenticed at the same time with Gushing O. 
Briggs, Avho in company with his brother Henry, became a suc- 
cessful builder at Scituate. The apprenticeship of Luther 
and Cushino; O. Brigfo^s was a remarkal)lv conixenial one which 
resulted in a lifelong friendship terminating only with death. 
The one quarrel, it is said, that they ever had, was when a dis- 
pute arose as to who Avas occupying the larger half of the bed 
one night. It was settled by their getting out and measuring 
their sides off, when peace reigned again. The early years of 
Luther Briggs' life were much interrupted ]\y ill health, which 
prevented him from engaging in active business for several 
years after his majority, but later he commenced business at the 
Brick-kilns, (so called), where his father and grandfather had 
previously built in company with the late Barker Turner. One 
incident occurring at the time they built, seems worthy of 
notice. It had been tlie custom in all the ship-^ards to carry 
around li(juor at stated hours and distribute to the men, as it 
was eon^sidered indispensable to a good day's work. After taking 
into consideration the great evil of intemperance they resolved 
building a ship without furnishing licjuor to their men. They 
were told it could not be done, that men would not work with- 
out their accustomed dram, and proba])ly many drank at their 
own expense, but it was the last of their furnishing it, and they 
had no trouble in building without it. It was an innovation 
which was soon followed in other yards on the River, where it 
had been thought indispensable to successful business. Luther 
Briggs deceased in 1864, aged eighty years, much respected as 
an honest and just man in all his business relations. He left 
one son, Luther, an architect in Boston, who still survives 



VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD. 195 

him." Luther Briggs built alone and in company with Barker 
Turner, Silvanus Smith, and Melzar S. Turner at different 
times. In 1836, Melzar Turner (as he was commonly called), 
left the Brick-kilns and built on his own account at Scituate 
Harbor. Later, he again built in company with Luther Briggs 
at the Brick-kilns, carrying on his Harbor Yard at the same 
time. He was not very successful financially, and becoming 
somewhat embarrassed, in 1845 Luther Briggs was obliged to go 
down to the Harbor, and "help him out" on a vessel he was 
building. From this time Luther Briggs continued in business at 
the Harbor and together they were very successful. Luther 
Briggs built at the Brick-kilns until 1850, when he gave all his 
time and energies to the Harbor Yard. He is described as being 
an extremely nervous man, especiall}^ if anything went wrong, 
just the opposite of his son Luther. Melzar Turner was a son 
of Luther Turner, who was a cousin of Barker Turner, Sr. 
He died leaving children. (See Harbor Yards) . 

The schooner "CATHERINE," 70 tons, was built here for 
John Bates, of Cohasset. Benj. Barnes, who will be remem- 
bered by many of the residents in the vicinity of North River 
as havinor brought fish to their doors, was commander. There 
was also built here during Luther Brings' tune the schooner 
"NOBLE E. JENKINS," 100 tons, which we find later in the 
Mediterranean trade ; the "INDUSTRY" and the brig "SUN," 
200 tons, C'apt. Rich, which was prol)ably the same "Sun" that 
was used later as a packet between New Bedford and the 
South, and which was condenmed at the Bay of Islands in Aug., 
1863; the brig "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN," 164 tons, which 
had a figure head of Benj. Franklin. She was added to the 
Beverly, Mass., whaling fleet in 1850, sold to Fall River in 
1856, was Fall River's last whaler, was bought in 1862 by E. 
Maxwell, of New Bedford, and while engaged in whaling was 
lost near Zanzibar, Sept. 8, 1867; and the "KENEDOS," but 
we have been unable to find out the exact years when each was 
built. Luther Briggs built in 1823 the sloop " MAYFLOWER," 
32 tons, of Pembroke ; owners : Asa Sherman, Jr., her captain, 
Elisha Phillips, Stephen Rogers, Jonathan Stetson, Jesse 
Reed, and Chandler Sampson, of jMarshfield, Alden Briggs, 
Luther Briggs, the builder, Elias ]\Iagoun, Horace and Gilman 
Collamore and Daniel Magoun, Pembroke, Elisha Foster, Jr., 
and Elisha Tolman, Scituate. He also built the "PHILENA 
OTIS " about 1828. 



196 VESSELS BUILT AT THE BKICK-KILN YARD. 



T^fd^^^ X^^ 




built in 1833 the "Han- 
son" a centre board 
sloop. She was a very 
, >^-5— > heavy craft and very 

rtft.^/-^ ^^y^ / ^^^V— — ^'^^' ^^^'^o o"^y three 

'^^'^^-^ <^-i^'-'»^'~>-ulJ ' niches "dead rise." 

She was used as a North River packet, running between Boston 
and the Brick-kilns, and had many owners, as the following regis- 
ter shows: — 1S33, sloop "HANSON," 47 tons, Pembroke"; own- 
ers ; Asa Sherman, Sr. and Jr., elolm Stetson, Daniel Phillips, 
Ephraim Randall and Stephen Rogers, Marshheld, Horace Colla- 
more, Calvin Shepard, Aurora W. Oldham, Alden and Luther 
Briggs, of Pembroke. In 1834, Luther Briggs built the "SU- 
SAN " for Hardy & Baker. Mr. Hardy married Susan Holmes 
and named this vessel after her. Mrs. Nathl. Smith was then 
Miss Susan Briggs. She says on invitation of j\Ir. Hardy, the 
two Susans were launched in this vessel. He Iniilt the same year, 
1834, the bark " BLACK HAWK " after the model of the " Black 
Hawk." In 1835, he built the "PALERMO" for Hardy & 
Baker. During the latter two years he also built at the Brick- 
kilns the following vessels in company with Melzar Turner. 
In 1834, the schooner "CORNELIA," owned by Thos. J. Bur- 
rows, Geo. M. Allen, of Scituate, Horace and Anthony Colla- 
more, Ephraim Randall, Melzar Turner, Luther Briggs and 
Luther Maijoun, of Pembroke ; and in 1835, the schooner 
"ADELINE," 99 tons, owned by Geo. M. Allen, Scituate, 
Horace Collamore, Alden and Luther Briggs, and JNIelzar S. 
Turner, Pembroke. AI)Out this time, in company with Melzar 
Turner, he built a vessel at Kingston for Cai)t. Delano, and in 
1836, at the Brick-kilns, the schooner "KEMP" for Wm. 
Kemp & Co. He also built at the Brick-kiln, in 1836, the 
schooner "SWAN," 129 tons, of Bostcm ; and in the same 
year, the schooner" EDWIN," 103 tons, of Boston, afterward of 
Newburyport, and used whaling from Provincetown in 1846. 
In 1837, he built the brig " AVILLIAM PENN," 158 tons, of 
Boston, which had a figure head nu)delled after the man for 
whom she was named. In 1838, he built the sch. "RED 
ROVER," 99 tons, of Pembroke, sold to Kingston, also in 
1838, a hriif for a Mr. Flynn, and about this time the sch. 
"CORDOVA."^ In 1839, he built the brig "VHLLIAM 
PITT," 174 tons, Howes Baker, master, and owned by Al- 
pheus Hardy, of Boston, and others. In 1841, he built the bark 
"SOPHRONIA," 197 tons, of Boston, copper and iron fastened, 



VESSELS BUILT AT THE BRICK-KILN YARD. 197 

owned by Trull and others, Boston, in 1859, Capt. Drew ; built of 
mixed wood. In company with Melzar Turner, he built in 1<S42, 
the sch. "CHESTP]R," HG tons, of Boston. Owned by John Beal, 
Peleg Jenkins, Samuel Brown and John Bouve, of Scituate, 
James Bonney and Luther Briofgs, of Pem])r()ke, Business 
was very lively at Scituate Harbor about this time and Luther 
Brigss was so busy at that yard that he did very little at the 
Brick-kilns until 1847, when he built a bark tor Lom])ard & 
Hall. The same year he entered into a partnership with Sil- 
vanus Smith, son of Capt. Jonathan Smith, of Duxbury, who 
commanded many vessels sailing out of Duxbury. Silvanus 
lived in Dux])ury during his younger days, but later married a 
daughter of Lewis McLaughlin and bought the old Morse place 
in Pembroke, where he resided dui'ing his partnership with 
Luther Briggs and Melzar S. Turner. Together they built at 
the Brick-kilns the "Arthur Pickering," in 1847, which they 
were one month getting out of the river, and another vessel, 
probably the "INIatilda," for J. Bates, in 1848. The sch. 
"MATILDA," 60 tons, was built in Pembroke, Mass., 1848, 
and was owned in 1884 at Boston. They also built the 
"CATHERINE " in 1848. Several years after this, Silvanus 
Smith left Pembroke and went to East Boston, where he worked 
in Samuel Hall's and Donald McKay's yards and in ¥j. & H. O. 
Briggs' at South Boston. After building three ships on his 
own account at East Boston, he went into partnership with 
Paul Curtis at Medford. For about sixteen years he has been 
a partner with James L. Townsend, under the firm name of 
Smith & Townsend, ship-builders at East Boston. They have 
built many fine ships there, several for C. Brewer & Co., 
among them the "Martha Davis," the "James Stone," the 
"Edward May," and last but not least, the good bark " Amy 
Turner" of 1000 tons, which has recently made over 2(50 
miles in twenty-four hours under Capt. Chas. A. Johnson, on a 
passage from Honolulu to Hong Kong. This vessel, under 
Capt. Albert W. Newell, carried the author around Cape Horn 
to the Sandwich Islands in 1880. Silvanus Smith has had six 
children: — 1. Sidney, who superintended the work on Stony 
Brook, Roxbury ; 2. Frances F., b. in Peml)roke ; 3. ZilphaD., 
the present secretary of the Associated Charities, of Boston, 
also b. in Pembroke ; 4. Erasmus F. ; 5. Mary, who married 
Luke Hall, iji-andson of the old ship-builder, Luke Hall; 6. 
Jennie A\'. "The bark "ARTHUR PICKERING," built in 
1847, was 254 tons, of Boston, built at Pembroke, of mixed 



198 TURNER, BRIGGS & SMITH. 

wood, Luther Briggs, Melzar Turner and Silvanus Smith, M. 
C's. She was iron fastened, and in 18(58 was whaling in the 
Pacific Ocean. The same year, her tirst mate, W. S. Maxtield, 
died. 

The only occasion of which we know that our little towns 
were honorv^d by a visit from a man who was ever President of 
the United States, with the exception of President Arthur's 
visit to the Webster phice, was in 1841, when tiie Hon. John 
Quincy Adams, then in Congress, came, by invitation of the 
ship-builders, to visit ILmover, Scituate, Pembroke, and ]Marsh- 
field, and the mouth of North River, to obtain certain facts and 
data that might be of service to him in his efforts to induce 
Congress to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of 
cutting through the bar, or, better still, to make a new mouth 
by cutting through the beach, where the high tides now often 
connect the river witii the ocean far above its natural mouth. 
It is needless to say that all etlbrts in this direction have failed, 
and as connnerce demanded larger vessels, and lumber became 
scarce, ship-building here was abandoned. Had the govern- 
ment carried out the plans of our old ship-builders, and legis- 
lated in favor of home commerce, North River would to-day 
have been lined with ship-yards, as it was eighty, yes, fifty 
years ago. The only written account found of Mi\ Adams' 
visit, and what was done throughout the day, is in the diary of 
Luther Briggs, the architect, now living and doing Inisiness in 
Boston, son of the ship-builder. The following is a cojjv of all 
he has written under the date of — 

"Thursday, October 2Sth, 1841. Fair. To-day was the day ap- 
pointed for the Hon. John Qiiincy Adams, and others interested, to 
go down to the Scituate shore and examine the phK"e where it is pro- 
posed to open a new channel for the North River, between the third 
and fourth cHrts (so called). Accordingly, father and Capt. Parris 
(who used to live where Mr. Nath'l Smith now resides, in Pem- 
broke), started for Marshfield in our chaise at half-past seven, a.m., 
and at eight o'clock I got into a carriage with Mr. A. Briggs, Jr., 
and we proceeded to the house of Mr. Luther Rogers (father of 
Clift Rogers, in Marshfield), having overtaken fither and the cap- 
tain, and rode in company for the last few hours. We waited at 
Mr. Rogers' for a few minutes, when Mr. Adams and the commit- 
tee came along, moving from the house of Daniel Phillips, Esq. 
After some little delay we proceeded to Little's Bridge, where the 
company embarked for the beach. I, however, drove father's chaise 
to the ferry, and put up the horse in Capt. Luke Hall's barn, then 
went across the river and walked up to the Clifi', arriving at the same 



VISIT OF HON. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



199 



time the company did who sailed from the bridg^e. Walked about 
the beach for an hour or two, and then re-crossed to the ferry. Soon 
after, started for home with Cousin Alden. Got home at two, p.m. 
Found Sarah Turner at home. Stayed at home in afternoon. In 
evening, husked ; also called at Mr. Estes'. 

P. S. — When I came away from the ferry, Mr. Adams and the 
others had gone down in a boat to view the present mouth of the 
river. I understood the arrangement was for them to return to Mr. 
Rogers' to dinner, and at three to enter the Episcopal Church 
(Marshfield), where Mr. Adams will be introduced to the citizens 
generally, and make some remai^ks.'' 

Luther Briggs adds, that the nearest they ever got to having 
a channel cut through the l)ar at the river's mouth, was when 
Luther Rogers, in explaining the plan (which Luther Briggs 
had taken great pride in drawing at that early age,) to Mr. 
Adams and the company at his house in Marshfield, he kept 
drawing his thumb-nail back and forth where the channel was 
to be cut, until finally it went through the paper. This was a 
sad sight for Mr. Briggs. He also adds that Mr. Adams did 
not spetdc upon the question of a cutting through the bar, as it 
was anticipated he would do when he went to the church, but 
branched riglit off into politics, much to the disappointment of 
those present. There was no ship-building carried on at the 
Brick-kilns after 1850. The "Catharine," in 1848, was proba- 
bly the last vessel built there. 

Plans were made, however, in 1850, for a Horse-boat, as it 
was called. This was a side-wheeler, to be run by a horse- 
power tread-mill. A plan of the boat is here given ; also copies 
of the old papeis relative to it : 



64;|t 




X 3. 3 X 6 ^ 7 



200 HORSE-BOAT FOR NORTH RIVER. 

" Dr Sir, — I have been to Hallowell and measured a horse-boat, 
which is sufficient for all the business done in crossing the river. 
Heavy teams are ferried across, without the least difficulty, with two 
horses — one on each side — the boat is 64 feet long & 13 feet wide — 
it swells above tlie hull what is called guard, as above in sketch to 21 
feet in the centre or amidships — to the centre of the platform a it is 
26 ft 7 fiom end <5, this platform is framed by arms as you see all 
imder deck, and the horses stand in stalls on the guards one facing 
one end of boat and the other the other end ; three feet& three inches 
from the centre on a circle are cogs which match into a pinion hori- 
zontally ; the shaft 6 ft. 8 inches long with a pinion c which match 
into coupling gear on the main shaft. The wheels are six feet diam- 
eter. By means of a lever at d the man readily changes the coupling 
and backs or goes ahead without stopping the horses — 'coupling 
gear ' is so well understood I do not need to explain it. Perhaps 
friction rollers are used under the platform. I should think it best 
but I did not examine or think to enquire. From deck to floor the 
hold is three feet 8 inches deep — bottom flat and steered at either 
end by a long oar easily unshipped. 1 he boat is not turned around 
but goes as well one way as another. I went across in her to see 
how she went — one horse the man told me had been in the ' mill' 
ten years. You see by the construction you get 64x12 clear deck 
which will hold a great deal — and no danger of a blow up or a mel- 
ancholy disaster. Many things you of course will readily under- 
stand such as scuttles over gearing to oil machinery & manner of 
j:)utting on paddles to finish wheel «& size of pinions & shafts. I did 
not think it worth while to send such things — as you wished the 
measure of the boat and not a full description of machinery and 
mode of working. I hope I have given you all the information you 
want, if not I will do so if you will let me know what you do want 
further." 

" Pembroke, May 10"' 1S50. 
The subscribers desireous of building a Tow Boat to be propelled 
by Horse power for the purpose of collecting & transporting sea 
manure from the vicinity of the mouth of North River & for bring- 
ing freight from the Packets from White's Ferry to all the landings 
as far up Riv^er as North River Bridge — agree to take the number of 
shares placed against our names. 

The whole expense is estimated at Two hundred & fifty dollars & 
it is proposed to divide it into twenty-five shares at Ten dollars pr. 
share. 

NAMES. NO. OF SHARES. 

Alex' Parris ......... I 

James H. Whitman ....... 3 

John Gushing ......... i 

Robert Sylvester ........ i 



HORSE-BOAT FOR NORTH RIVER. 201 

George H. Wetherbee ....... i 

Capt. Luther Rodgers ..... r 

Solomon Little ........ i 

Thatch. Magoun Esqr. 12J 

Remember that i have seen Mr. Thacher Magoun in Medford at 
his Ship yard this day Monday May 20"' 1S50 he agreed to take five 
or ten shares in the Scow that i am going to build and to call on him 
for the Cash at any time. 

Remember i saw Mr. Magoun this Day at his (Barker Turner) 
house June 21, 1850 and he agreed to take ten shares in Boat." 

I have been unable to find that the boat ever existed, except 
on paper. Thus ends the history of the Brick-kiln Yard, and 
the last ship-building in Pembroke. 



CHAPTER XII. 



ROGERS' YARDS.— 1790^1819. 



GRAVELLY BEACH DOGGETT S FERRY. 



ISRAEL ROGERS, AMOS ROGERS, JOSEPH ROGERS, ASA ROGERS, 
ASA ROGERS, JR., SAMUEL ROGERS, THOMAS ROGERS, THOMAS 
ROGERS, JR., NATHANIEL ROGERS, JR., PELEG ROGERS, PELEG 
ROGERS, JR., LUTHER ROGERS. 



IT has been almost impossible to locate the different members 
of the Rogers family and their yards. None of the family, 
apparently, have been interested enough heretofore in their 
genealogy to look it up to any extent, and only by the most 
diligent examination of family records have the following facts 
been ascertained, as the names of the early members of the fam- 
ily scarcely appear on the town records. There were two 
yards, — one at Gravelly Beach, Marshfield, just below the 
present residence of Benjamin White, near where the saw-pit 
is now visible ; the other was located where the present abut- 
ment of Little's Bridge rests on the Marshfield bank of North 
River. Peleg, Luther, and possibly Nathaniel, Jr., and Thomas 
Jr. , built at the latter yard, but nearly if not quite all of the other 
ship-building members of this family built at Gravelly Beach, 
and all worked, at various periods, in nearly every yard on the 
river. The Rogers were skilled ship-carpenters, and if any 
one wanted a ship built on honor, a Rogers was his man. The 
following is a genealogy of the Rogers family, as complete as 
it has l^een possible to make it with the material now in exist- 
ence. There is a tradition in the family th;it John Rogers and 
Rev. Mr. AVitherell, who came into Scituate at the same time, 
were both related to John Rogers, the martyr, John being a 



ROGERS GENEALOGY. 203 

grandson ; but this trudition needs verification before being 
accepted as correct. 

Timothy Rogers was among the first of that name we find in 
Marshfield. He was b, 1690, and mar, Lydia, dau. of Israel 
Hatch, of "Two Mile." She was b. 1699. Their son Israel, 
b. 1722, was a ship-builder. He mar. Bethiah, dau. of Samuel 
and Eebecca (Howland) Thomas, Dec. 31, 1747, and theytook 
up their abode near Gravelly Beach, in the third house from the 
river. Their children were : 1. Israel, b. Felt. 2, 1748-9 ; 
mar. Hannah Rogers. 2. Nathaniel, b. Sept. 1, 1750; mar. 
Bethiah Clift. 3."Thomas, b. June 8, 1752. 4. Asa, b. May 
15,1754. 5. Abijah, b. June 24, 1756. 6. Araunah, b. Nov. 
5, 1758 ; mar. Deborah Davis. 7. Bethiah, b Feb. 24, 1761 ; 
mar. Anthony E. Hatch. 8. Howland, b. Sept. 3, 1763 ; mar. 
Hannah Davis. 9. Rebekah, b. Dec. 3, 1766 ; mar. Ichabod 
Hatch in 1794. 10. Samuel, b. April 27,1769. 11. Mercy, 
b. Nov. 11, 1772 ; mar. Ichabod Hatch in 1830. 

CT^ /i? Sr., (3) b. 1752, son of Is- 

h/'^^^*^''^*^ /^.^S'^Uj^^rael; mar., Aug. 14, 1781, 
^ Agatha (orEggatha), dau. 

of "Miller Ben" Hatch, whose thirteen sons and daughters 
were ancestors of many of the present Rogers and Hatch fam- 
ilies, Thomas Rogers built in Cohasset as late as 1819, in which 
year he built there the sch. "Young James," 66 tons burthen, 
for James Collier and Abraham Hall. Eggatha, wife of 
Thomas, was b. June 14, 1762. Thomas built a house, which 
he occupied, on Cornhill avenue, near Mrs. Hannah Baker's. 
It was burned several years ago. He had children : 

the ship-luiild- 
h,yymt<$ >7^^ ^'^ y=^ 17 8 2; mar. , 





yy S3pt.l5,1803, 



Lavinia Soule, 

who was b. Jan. 21, 1784. By her he had one dau., Jane S., 
b. May 15, 1804, who mar, Dea. Hiram Oakman, and is now 
living, the venerable mother of Col. Hiram A. Oakman, H. P. 
Oakman of Neponset, Otis B. and Nathan S. Oakman of North 
Hanover (who mar. two Brooks sisters), and ]\lrs, Henry Abiel 
Turner of Norwell. Thomas' first wife d. May 19, 1805, and 
he mar., 2nd, Mary (or Polly) Clift, Nov. 28, 'l806. She was 
b. Nov. 14, 1787. By her he had four daughters : Judith C, 



204 llOGERS GENEALOGY. 

1). Feb. 23, 1820, avIio mar. Adia P. "Wilde, and left one or 
more descendants. ]\lary A., 1). July 17, 1822. Lavinia, b. 
Aug. 9, 1825; mar. John L. Clapp. They have one child, 
Elton B. Clapp, now living in East ^Nlarshtield. Bethiah O., 
the youngest child of Thomas and ]\rary Rogers, b. April 29, 
1827, is now living in East Marshfield, unmarried. 2. Mar- 
tin, b. April 13, 1784; mar. Sarah Grinnell of Belfast, ^Nle. 
3, Phillips, b. March 14, 1787, a ship-carpenter; mar. Judith 
Smith, of Duxbury, and removed to Medford. 4. Agatha,!). 
July 25, 1795; mar. Nathan "Williamson. 5. Howland, b. 
Jan. 18, 1797, a ship-carpenter; mar. Philenda, dau. of Capt. 
Xathaniel Clift. He succeeded to his father's estate, but after- 
ward sold it, and lived upon his wife's place on Clift, now 
Spring street, Marshfield. He had four children : 1. "Wales 
Allen, who mar. Sarah A., dau. of Capt. "Wales Tilden. 

2. George Howland, who mar. Eunice Ann, dau. of Abijah 
Rogers ; and they had one son, George Calvin, who mar. Eve- 
line, dau. of Edwin Curtis, and now lives in East Marshfield. 

3. Nathaniel Clift ; and 4, Philenda Adeline. 6. AVaeren, 
b. Oct. 9, 1804 ; mar., and removed to Lynn, Mass., where he 
has one son, Henry AVarren, who is mar., and has two sous and 
one daughter. 

jLsa Hogers (4), the ship-builder, b. 1754, the fourth child 
of Israel, the pioneer ship-builder, mar., Dec. 13, 1781,Alnah, 
dau. of Edward Oakman, and lived on Cornhill avenue, where 
some of their grandchildren now reside. They had ten chil- 
dren : 1. Abiah, b. Sept. 7, 1783. 2. Sarah, b. Nov. 9, 
1785 ; mar. a Mr. Pratt of Boston. 3. Asa, Jr., b. June 21, 
1787; d. 1851. He mar. Euth, dau. of Zaccheus and Ruth 
(Oakman) Rogers, and succeeded to the homestead; and had 
the following ten children, most of whom settled in Marshfield : 
Ruth L., b. Aug. 5, 1813 ; d. Jan. 2, 1818. Martha, b. Nov. 
'22, 1815; mar., 1st, a Mr. Studley ; 2nd, a Mr. Day. Be- 
thiah, b. Aug. 25, 1817 ; mar. N. J. Damon. Ruth L., the 
second, b. Dec. 6, 1818 ; unmarried. Augusta, b. Sept. 28, 
1820 ; mar. Edwin Curtis. Louisa Forbes, b. May 18, 1823 ; 
unmarried. William, b. Jan. 21, 1825 ; unmarried. Edwin 
Thomas, b. Oct. 1, 1826; mar. Almaria Covell. Ann Caro- 
line, b. July 27, 1829 ; mar. James Lamliert. Mercy, b. Feb. 
3, 1831 ; d^ Feb. 20, 1834. 4. Temperance, the fourth child 
of Asa, Sr., the ship-builder, b. Oct. 12, 1788 ; d. in Maiden, 
unmarried. 5. Aaios, b. Feb. 24, 1791 ; mar. and had sons : 



BOGERS GENEALOGY. 205 

John, who went to Warren, Me., and Josephiis, a ship-buikler 
of Bath, Me., where his children and grandchiklren have suc- 
ceeded to the business. 6. Bethiah, b. May 25, 1792; mar. 
Wm. Smith, who kept the well known "Half-Way House" at 
West Scituate (now Norwell), on the road from Plymouth to 
Boston. They removed to Bedford. 7. Alice, b. Sept. 19, 
1793 ; mar. a Mr. Turner, of Boston, and had a son, Henry, 
with whom she lived in Maiden after the death of her husband. 
8. Edward, and 9. Henry, twins, b. Aug. 23, 179(5. Edward 
resided at South Boston, where he was at one time in partner- 
ship with his brother Henry, who was a master ship-builder at 
South Boston and at Medford. Henry was also for some time 
Quartermaster in the Charlestown Navy Yard. 10. Thomas, 
b. July 21, 1802 ; mar., in 182(5, Jane, dau. of Elisha Tilden,, 
and removed to Medford, where they died, leaving three daugh- 
ters, who have descendants. 

Samuel (10), who built at Gravelly Beach, and lived where 
Benjamin White now resides, was b. 1769, the tenth child of 
Israel. He mar. Mary Rogers, who was b. INIay 3, 1772. He 
d.-Aug. 2, 1832; she d. Feb. 20, 1812. They had six chil- 
dren : 1. Rachel Clift, b. Feb. 8, 1784. 2. Maria, b. Jan. 
23, 1800. 3. Alfred, b. Sept. 1, 1803, who has two sons 
residing in Boston : 1. Samuel, who mar., and has a son Wil- 
liam F. 2. William A., who mar., and has two daughters, 
Ilattie B., and Grace. 4. Zadoc, b, March 23, 1810. 5. Sam- 
uel, Jr., b. Feb. 5, 1814; d. Auo;. 12, 1817. 6. Rachel W., 
b. June 12, 1818 ; d. Dec. 20, 1853. 

Of the Little Bridge family, Peleg Rogers mar. Hannah 
Stevens in 1754, and had several children. Among them was 
Peleg Rorje vs., Jr., the ship-builder, w^ho mar. Jemima Eames 
in 1784. They had children: 1. Peleg, b. 1785. 2. Jede- 
diah, b. 1788. (3. Isaac, who mar. Hannah Ford, and resided 
at the homestead, near Little's Bridge?) 4. Nathan, b. 1793 ; 
d. young. 5. Salome, b. 1794; d. 1882, unmarried. 6. 
Arthur, b. 1798, a ship-carpenter; mar. Sarah F. Lapham, and 
d. at East jMarshtield, leaving descendants. 7. Isaiah, b. 1800 ; 
mar. Emily Tobey. He was a somewhat noted architect in 
Xew York. He came into possession of the old homestead, 
and sold it to its present owner, Amos F. Damon. 8. Laura, 
b. 1802; mar. Thaddeus Wheeler. 9. Jotham ; mar. Louisa 
Bowker, of Bowker street. South Scituate. 10. Alden, b^ 



206 VESSELS BUILT BY AMOS IIOGEIIS. 

1807 ; mar. Adeline Humphrey, and resided at Seaview, Marsh- 
field. He had quite a laroe family. One dauo;hter mar. Amos 
r. Damon. 11. Susan I)., mar. Isaac Ewell, and resides in 
Medford. 12. Amos ; was killed by an accident in New York 
City, soon after his marriage, while working ■with his brother 
Isaiah. 

Peleg and Hannah Stevens Rogers had a son Nathaniel, b. 
Aug. 6, 1757, (who mar. Hannah Ford, of Duxbury?). He 
lived "up the hill," in the house next south of Isaac Rogers. 

Samuel, Jr., and Experience (Thomas) Rogers had a son, 
Simeon, b. 1737, who mar. Mary Clift ; by her he had a son, 
Luther, b. Aug. 21, 1778, who became a master ship-builder. 
Luther mar., in 1802, Abigail L. Tilden, and lived in a large 
house, on a corner, at East Marshfield village, which he built 
for a hotel. It is now owned by his son, Alvin, who resides in 
Quincy. Of his other sons, Clift mar. a Quincy lady, where 
he was in the tannery business for many years. He now re- 
sides in East Marshfield ; no children. Wales was a black- 
smith in East Marshfield, until succeeded by his son, Mar- 
cellus W. He has one other son, James L. , and four daughters, 
all married. Avery resides in I]ast Marshfield, and has a son, 
Alfred, in South Boston. Luther, Jr., was a merchant at East 
Marshfield for many vears. He mar. Lydia Clift, and they 
have had children T John L., b. 1836. Henry C, b. 1839 
(who write their name "Rodgers,'' and both of whom are mem- 
bers of the M^ell known leather firm in Boston). Herbert, b, 
1845 ; resides in Quincy, and does business in Boston. Mary 
L., b. 1850 ; is married. 

built in Marshfield, as early as 1792, 
the sch. "PERSIS," 90 tons, of 
Marshfield ; Amos Rogers, owner. 
He built, in 1794, the sch. "NEP- 
TUNE," 114 tons, of Marshfield; 
Amos Rogers, owner. In 1796, he 
built the sch. " SALLY," 96 tons, for Thomas Lewis, Sr. and 
Jr., and Joshua Ellis of Boston. The last vessel registered as 
having been built by him was in 1798, the sch. "CONCLU- 
vSION," 109 tons, of Boston, afterward of Castine, Me. ; Amos 
Rogers, Iniilder, of iNlarslitield. 

Prince Hatch built in ]Marshfield in 1801, at Capt. Joseph 
Hunt's ship-}'ard, \vliich was pro]:)ably located on the South 








Map of Marshfield, A.D. 1794. 



VESSELS BUILT BY JOSEPH ROGERS. 207 

River, a schooner for Gorham Lovell of Yarmouth, and Zenas 
Oage and Abner W. Lovell of Barnstable. 




?X 



-^ 



a Quaker, built in 
^ r> Cf^£^ f Marshfield, in 1794, 
■^g;^^"^'^ the brig "SISTERS," 
^ 83 tons, of Boston. 

In 1795, the sch. "BETSEY," 121 tons, owned by Samuel 
Truant, Joseph and James Rogers, at Marshfield ; also in 1795, 
the sch. "ELIZA," 106 tons, of Boston. Probably foundered 
at sea in 1807. Sheffield, in his book on "Commerce," pub- 
lished in 1783, says that "In New England, ship-builders build 
many vessels for sale ; most of them are bought in Great 
Britain." He says that an English contractor paid in New 
England " £75 sterling for a mast of 33 in. diameter." In some 
old newspapers are found the following items of interest to 
Marshfield people. From the New England Weekly Journal: 

•' On or about the 23d of February, 1728, Capt. Bass, in a fine large ship 
belonging to Boston, coming from the Bay of Honduras, run ashore on or 
near Marshfield Beach, and is not likely lo be got otf, though most of the 
cargo will be saved." 

From the Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Weekly JSTews- 
Letter : 

" On Wednesday last," (Thursday, April 10, 1766,) " the Rev. Mr. Wil- 
liam Shaw was ordained to the Pastoral care of the Church at Mansfield 
(or Marshfield)." 

" Last Sunday " (Thursday, Xov. 22, 1770,) " was married, at the church 
in Marshfield, by the Rev. Mr. Thompson, Pelham Winslow, Esq., of Ply- 
mouth, Barrister-at-Law, and eldest son of the Hon. Gen. Win&low, of 
Marshfield, to INIiss Joanna White of that town ; a lady possessed of vir- 
tues and accomplishments which tend to render marriage not only agreea- 
ble but honorable." 

From Boston Evening Post, July 20, 1772 : 

"Died, at Marshfield, John Gooch, Esq., late of this town (Boston)." 

From Boston Evening Post, Dec. 7, 1772 : 

"Died, at Marshfield, Mrs. Maiy Winslow, consort of the Hon. Gen. 
Winslow." 

From Boston Gazette <& Country Journal. 

" April 25, 1774, Died at Scituate, Gen. Winslow." 

Martin Rogers, one of the old ship carpenters, boarded at 
one time with a Mr. Phillips. The sameness of the table made 



7 




208 VESSELS BUILT BY ASA ROGERS. 

them wish for a change, so one day when Mr. Phillips invited 
Mr. Rogers to ask the blessing at the table he said, "Dear 
Lord, by the means of beef and beans are our lives preserved. 
"We thank God we are not starved." Israel Eogers built many 
vessels at Gravelly Beach prior to 1790. 

son of Israel, built at 
Gravelly Beach from 
1794 until 1803 and 
])ossibly later. He 

built in 1794 the 

/ / ' TT^ sch. " FEDEEAL 

GEORGE," 103 tons, 
of ]Marshfield. Isaac Wmslow, owner. During the six months 
ending July 27, 179(5, he built the mow "PACIFIC TR VDER," 
141 tons, for INIartin Bicker & Son of Boston. She had two 
decks, three masts, was 53 ft. long, 21 ft. l)road, and 10 ft. 
deep. A snow was a vessel equipped with two or three masts 
resemblinij a main and foremast of a shiv:) and three small masts 
abaft the mainmast carrying a trysail. They were much used 
in the merchant service during the Revolution. There was 
built at Gravelly Beach by Asa Roirers in 179(3 the sch. 
"THREE FRIENDS," 32 tons, eloseph Hunt of Marshfield, 
owner, and in 1798 the sch. "LUCY," 39 tons, Jesse Dunbar 
and Asa Yinal of Scituate, owners. In 1799 the sch. "CAM- 
ERON," 98 tons, of Boston, was built at Marshfield by Asa 
Roo-ers, shipbuilder. In 1801 he built the sch. "FOUR 
FRIENDS," 75 tons of Plymouth. The last vessel we have 
found recorded as having been built by him was one he built in 
Scituate, but at what yard is not known. This was in 1803 the 
sell. "iMORNING STAR," 82 tons. Owners, Jesse Dunbar, Asa 
^ Vmal and Eli Curtis of Scituate. Built at Scituate, Asa Rogers 
M. C. In 1799 he built his second schooner named ^^ Federal 
Georr/e,'' 8(3 tons, for George Keith, Jr., of Marshfield. This 
vessel he built at " Keith's Building Yard," on South River. 
He used to walk to Boston after setting his men to work in the 
yard and walk back in time to discharge th(>m at night. He 
has also been known to walk to Medford Saturday night and 
leavnig there Monday morning arrive in Marshfield in time to 
go into the yard with the men ; and the ship carpenters began 
work soon after sun rise in those days. Asa's son Edwin T. 
Rogers, (who has furnished the author much information and is 
now living at Marshfield Two-]\Iile,) used to say he wished he 
could live to see the day that there would be no shipbuilding on 



ROGERS YARD. 209 

North River. His reasons were because he had to take his 
father's dinners across the meadow wliere the water was some- 
times nearl}^ up to his waist and in the av inter the snow was 
very deep and often slushy. Edwin T. Roijers was a ship 
carpenter for many years. There is a tradition in the Rogers 
family that Asa, Jr., with Amos and possibly Samuel, built at 
Gravelly Beach the '^Hornet,'" the war vessel which becarne 
celelirated durins^ our last war with Eno:land. Tradition also 
says that this vessel was lost during the Mexican war, being 
sunk l)y the enemy, and that William Henry Rogers, a past mid- 
shipman, swam five miles to land. Instead of the U. S. man-of- 
war, "Hornet," the vessel built here was undoubtedly a priva- 
teer of the same name. . ; 

Bevj. Rogers, who was either agent or captain of the sloop 
"Albion," in 1823, was brother of Isaiah and lived in Marsl>- 
field where Clifford Rogers, his grandson now resides. Stephen 
Rogers, a Quaker, and a prominent man of his day, lived in the 
Block-house, Marshfield, wliere H. W. Nelson, Esq., now 
resides. Marshfield has always been famous for the fires that 
have occurred within its borders. The following is found in 
an early number of the JSfeto England Weekhj Journal. / 

"On Wednesday last the 24, current " (May 1727) "two houses we.i;e 
burnt at Marshfield standing several rods distant from one another. It 
seems that in the house where the fire began a J oung man had in the after 
noon of the foregoing day been combing wool, and having occasion to put 
some coals into his comb-pot, a small one happened to fall into a chink of 
the floor, which he espying, poured into the place almost a pail of water, 
and concluding that the fire was utterly extinguished took no further notice 
of it; but about two hours before da}- the woman of the house awaking, 
perceiving the house to be on fire, she immediately called up her chil- 
dren, who had not time to dress themselves but were glad to escape with- 
out their clothes. There was an aged man in the house (the woman's 
father) whom they had much ado to get out. The substance of what w-as 
saved out of the flames was a few beds and some pewter." 

The following is taken from the Boston Chronicle for 1768, 
(April 18-25) : 

"We hear from Marshfield that last week a farmer in that place burning 
some brush on his land during a high wind, the flames spread and set the 
woods and fences on fire for near three miles, greatly to the damage of the 
people in that place." 

There used to be a young man who came down to one of the 
yards to see the ship carpenters and who was not called very 
bright. One day he was telling about a grsat fire in Marsh- 
field woods, when he said what 2:rieved him most Avas to see 



2J10 



SAM I. KOO.KKS (.Wri". IHOS. lUXiKKS, ,1K. 



tl»o poor littlo i-iibbits runniuir out ot' the woods with their tciils 
burnod otV. 

SiimueJ Iioaei\<. who lived in the liouse now oeoupied hv 
IVniannn White at (.inivelly Ueaeh, built at Cinivelly Boaell, 
also at Hanover and in the l>riek-Kiln Yard. Pembivke, and 
^^ anion Yard, 8eitiiate. He was at one time in partnership 
with the Fosters. He built in Soituate in ISIT, the sip. 
'^MANl'Y," To tons, of Seituate. Owners. Jonathan Stetson, 
Chandler Sampson, Stephen and Luther Kogei-s, and Asa 
Sherman, of Mai'shtield, and Elias ^lagoun. Pembroke, and 
Klisha Foster. Jr. . Soituate. Built probably at Foster's Yard. AVe 
liave been unable to aseertain the names or histories of any 
vessels built by him in Marshtield, thouirh there are quite a 
immber of models in existence of vessels he built at Gravellv 
IVaeh. 

Capt. T/iomas JRoaers, Jr., brother of Stimuel, and son of 
Thomas, lived at the head of the lane that leads up from liniv- 
elly Ueaeh. He was a liner, that is. he lined for plankiuir ves- 
sels, whieh took givat skill. He also worked in Medford. in 
Uoston. and on Oampobello Island, in the Ray of Fundy. He 
built, in 1^-JO. the seh. "^ RACHEL." :^i» tons,' of Marshtield. 



mSTKlCr OF MASSACUrSETl^S. 



SrRVFYOKS Ofvick. 



Port of Haxovkr. 



I do Coi-titv that the sohoonor n;mitKl tho i?.i be 7 vn" Marshtield is ameri- 
CA« Inuit that she has one dtvk two masts her loiiirth is lifty sovou l\vt 
Kiirhr Inchi's her Bivdth is sixteen l\vt six i Inches her debiii seven feet 
two i Inches and n\easnTvs tiity nine ton lH>-iK^ has a squai'^ stern has no 
Oallevies «y no head (^and that her name and the name of the jx->rt to w hioh 
she IvloniTS ftiv painted on the stern in the manner iv^niitnl by the thiixl 
s<.vtion ot the Act for ivsristering ships or vessels of the Vniteil States) 

Given under my hand at Hanover aforessaid this thinl day of May one 
tlK>u<>nd Klirht hundivd >lt iweutv. 






^ 




i>'.irvc>jor. 



NATHANIEL ROGERS, JR., .Sllll'-HUILDKU. 211 

We Constant F. Oaknian, Samuel Joyce, Samuel Joyce Jr. James Keith, 
Samuel Oakman, Hatch Oakman, John Jones, Josepli ('lift, Jr. owners of 
the aforesaid schooner do agree to the foregoing description and measuro- 
ment. 




^'yt^^t'^t^ 






;*a»*c 



^/w-nct/n 






Nathaniel Hor/cr.'^, Jr., built in Marshiiold, pr()l):il)ly :it Lit- 
tle's Bridge, in i7!)4, the sell. "ELIZA," l»^< tons, oi" iioslon. 
The following is a eopy of the certificate of the "Lli/a," signed 
by jNlr. llogers, wliich Avas not written by liiin, but by the flus- 
tice before whom he signed : 

"these may sartyli that I built Uio schoner Called the Eliza in marslilicld 
in the County of i)Iyoutii Said Schoner l^aycd at mr. John hanes woi-f in 
Charlstown on the Last Criinas day which had her foremast taken out by 
Ileaiscn of her for mast being Sprong on her payeseg from marshliehl to 
Charlstown the Said Sclioncr is now oncd by mr. Samuel Toby of Charls- 
town the said schoner is Singel deak with a Round stern. 

marshfield 13 Jenuary 1795." 

As has been previously stated, ])efore Little's Bridge was 
built there Avas a ship-yard located on tlu^ site of the })resent 
abutments of the bridge, on tlie Marshtield side. This yard 





212 VESSELS BUILT BY TELEG ROGERS AND THOS. ROGERS. 

was ocoupiecl by Peleg, father of Isaiah Rogers, and by others 
of the Kogers family. It was not far above the CarAer & Tay- 
lor Yard. Peleg Koi>:ers set out the hirge tree now standinor 
near the bridge. He is said to have made the tirst model of a 
certain style of vessel that was ever made. 

built at Little's 
K^-7^ ''^^^' Bridije, in 1795, 
the ship "AKGO," 
221 tons, of Bos- 
ton ; owners, Albert Smith, of Hanover, and others. The 
"Argo" was a double decker with three masts, 06 feet keel, 24 
feet beam, 15 feet depth of hold. This was probably the ves- 
sel referred to in a letter addressed to Ste})hen Gorman, or 
Gorham, Boston, and dated at Hanover, March 10th, 1795. 
The writer says : 

" Mr. Roggers has met with some difficulty in procuring a few 
particular sticks of timber. I have urged him to hasten your ship, 
and not scant her in depth of hold. She will be so good a vessel 
that particular attention should be paid to have the rigging of the 
best quality." 

There was built here, in 1798, by the Rogers', the sch. 
" REINDEER," 20 tons ; owners, Jedediah and^Luther Little, 
at :\Iarshticld. In 1800, the brio't'n " GEORGE WASHING- 
TON," 131 tons, of Boston, was" built at Marshfield by Peleg 
Rogers, ship-builder. This vessel was later sold to Nantucket, 
and used in the wine trade. In 1818, she left the Azores full 
of wine, but never was heard of after. Peleg Rogers built, in 
1800, the sch. "RUBY," 28 tons; owned by^'Daniel, Timothy, 
Nathaniel, Isaac, and Peleg Rogers, jMarshtield. She was after- 
ward sold to Provincetown. The last vessel we have found 
recorded as having been built by Peleg Rogers, Jr., was the 
sch. " Trial," 94 tons, which he built at Deer Island, in the 
Harbor of Boston, in 1804, for Joseph Hunt of Marshfield. 

Thomas Boqers, Jr., was master carpenter, in 1819, of the 
packet sloop "ABIGAIL LITTLE," 20 tons, built and owned 
by Luther Rogers, at East JMarshtield village. This vessel was 
built on land near the house of Luther Rogers. Farming was 
rather dull, and Mr. Rogers found that he could make more by 
building vessels on his farm than in raising vegetables. He 
took this vessel to the river at Little's Bridge, in the winter 
time, on sleds, and launched her on the ice. She was run as a 



LUTHER ROGERS, SHIP-BUILDEK. 213 

packet between Boston and North River for a time, but was 
afterward sold to Chelsea. It has been stated to the author 
that Luther Rogers also built the sloop " TRADER," on land 
back of where Alvin Rogers lived ; but no records have been 
found to prove the fact. It is said this vessel was swung on 
sets of wheels, which were drawn by oxen to Little's Bridge, 
where she was launched, and that she was afterward converted 
into a steam vessel, and sold down East. Luther Rogers built 
two or three small vessels at his home place, and conveyed 
them to the river. One was made as an open "gundalow," or 
scow, and afterward lengthened, covered in, and made into the 
packet "PICO."* 



* See Chapter on North River Pilots. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



WANTON YARD.— 1670-1840. 



EDWAl^n WANTON, UOREUT HAHKKI{, KBKNEZER STETSON, SNOW 
STirsON, IJKN.T a:\I1N DKLANO, "WILLIAM DELANO, 8AMUKL 
HAUTT, WILLLVM II. I>KLANO, BEN.JAMIN F. DKLANO, JOSEPH 
CLArr, ELISIIA F0STE15, ELISIIA FOSTEU, JR., SETII FOSTER, 
SAMUEL FOSTER, WALTER FOSTER, SAMUEL ROGERS, ELIJAH 
BROOKS, J. TURNER FOSTER, CUMMINGS LITCHFIELD, JAMES 
8. UUUKILL. 



npiIK AV:»nt(Mi Yard was on llio oKl Wanton estate, located on 
-^ llie Stituato side of North Kivor, u little east of, or below, 
tlie pi'es(>nt residence of Sanniel ('. (.^idworlli, Ksc]. The old 
yard was later divided by a wall, thus making two yards, which 
were vised separately during tlie last century and the early part 
of this. Edward Wanton began ship-building here, })robably, 
as early as 1(>70, and vessels are recorded as having been built 
by him as late as 1707. Tradition says he came from London. 
lie appeared in Boston before IdaS, and in l()f)*J-()l assisted at 
the execution of Quakers. He soon became deeply sensible of 
the cruelty, injustice, and impolicy of these measures, and was 
greatly moved by the tirnmess with whiih they met death, and 
won by their addresses before their execution. He tinally re- 
turned to his house, after one of these executions, saying, 
"Alas! mother, we have been murdering the Lord's people." 
He took olf his sword, with a solenni vow never to wear it 
again. From this time, he conversed at every opportunity with 
the Friends, and soon rest>lved to become a public teacher of 
their faith. In l()()l, he })urchased a farm of eighty acres of 
William Parker, in Scituate, a little below Till's, or Dwelley's 
Creek, where the river sweeps so grandly through the upland. 



EDWARD WANTON. 2 1 5 

Here he conducted the business of ship-building. His house 
stood near the bank of the river, on land afterward inijiroved 
as part of the ship-yard, and where was located one of the work- 
houses in ISoO. As a teacher of Quakerism he was (juite suc- 
cessful, and soon gathered a large congregation, and won many 
followers from the prominent tamiiies of the town. He had 
nothing to fear now, except the minor persecutions, as corporal 
punishment, in this connection, was forbidden l)y King Charles 
about 1()(]1. In 1()78, the Society })ecame so numerous as to 
necessitate the building of a house of public worship, and a 
small piece of land was purchased that year, of Henry Ewell, 
and a house erected. This was located on the site of the gar- 
den of the late Judge William Cushing. Later, another house 
of worship was erected on the Wanton estate. This house is 
now in Peml)roke, part of it having been removed, and now 
occupied as a residence by Charles Collamore. The remainder 
is still used by the Society of Friends, who worship there, hav- 
ing at the present day between twenty and thirty members. 
Tradition says the house was moved from the old Wanton es- 
tate to its present location, v/rt North liivcr, on "'gundalows." 
One of the many persecutions W^uiton and his followers were 
subjected to, was, in " 1()78 Edward Wanton (of Scituate) for 
disorderly joining himself to his now wife in marriage in a way 
contrary to the order of Government is fined £10;" and no 
doul)t their persecutors, if allowed, would have })unished and 
tortured them as were forgers and thieves, an instance of which 
is given below, taken from an early paper : 

" We also hear from New London, that at the Superior Court Holden 
there the 30th of March last, (1727) one William Warkins was Tried for 
Theft, found Guilty, and Sentenced to be Branded, and his right Ear cut 
oft', which was done the same Day : He intended to have had his Ear put 
on again, but being unskilful in Surgery, he kept it 'till it was dead, that 
it was attempted in vain : so that as the poor man could not do as he would, 
he must e'en do as he can." — The New E^igland Weekly Journal. 

Edward Wanton died Oct. 10, 1716, aged 85, and ^vas buried 
on his own plantation, on a rise of ground below the ship-yard. 
Some of his and several of the Rogers family were buried here 
later, and the land })rohahly l)elongs to their descendants ; and 
though it has l)cen tres[)assed upon by vandals, in times past, 
we hope some action may be taken by the town, ere long, to 
protect it hereafter. Members of the Wanton family are also 
buried in the " Old First Parish Cemetery," opposite School- 
house, District !Xo. G. Deane gives some interesting and 



216 EARLY MINISTERS IN SCITUATE. 

apiusing anecdotes about the Wanton's, in his "History of 
Scituate," to which the reader is referred. Edward left quite 
a family. AVilliam and John were invited to Court, in Eng- 
land, in 1702, and Queen Anne granted an addition to their 
coat-of-arms, and presented to each a silver punch-l>owl and 
salver for their daring and successful capture of pirate and 
French vessels in 1694-97. Undoubtedly, the vessels the Wan- 
tons used in their captures were built by their father, on the 
North Eiver. The Wanton family furnished three Governors 
fpr Rhode Island : William, son of Edward, was Governor 
during 1732 and 1733. Gideon, grandson of Edward, was 
Governor from 1747 to 1748 ; and William's son, Joseph, 
another grandson of Edward, was chosen Governor in 1769, 
and re-elected for six consecutive 3'ears. Edward's son Joseph, 
father of Gideon, removed to Tiverton in 1688, and was a ship- 
builder at " the narrows, or gut." The ministers who came 
later to Scituate undid much of the teaching of Edward Wan- 
ton, and few, if any of the Quaker sect are now left there. One 
of the first ministers of Scituate was the Rev, Nathl. Eells, 
who preached for about fifty years following the year 1702. 
He is described as one of the best " old-fashioned men " that 
oyer lived in town. Later, Dr. Barnes was pastor here. He 
was not an educated man, but substantial, and knew wdien and 
how to make a good point. He was very popular, always lis- 
tened to by large audiences, and had a singular way of speak- 
ing, starting a sentence in his ordinary tone of speech, then 
dropping his voice very low on the last few words. He once 
undertook to give the character of Joshua of old, as follows : 
"He rose gradually, went slowly, but at what period he arrived 
we do not know." Here is an anecdote the}^ used to tell in the 
ship-yards about Dr. Barnes : Dr. Barnes said he " ate a red 
herring one morning, rode all day in the rain, and came home 
at night dry." An old ship-carpenter, in attempting to tell the 
story after him, said, "Dr. Barnes ate a red herring in the morn- 
ing, rode all day in the rain, and came home at night and was 
not wet." Below is the record of the death of another Scituate 
minister, clipped from an old paper : 

" Scituate. (Mon. Jan. 13, 1766) Mr. Elijah Packard (formerly Minister 
at Scituate) was frozen to death in walking over the Neck from Kenne- 
beck to Sheepscut." — The Boston Oazette and Country Journal 

Also an account of the death of the Rev. Mr. Bourn from The 
Boston Clironide for 1763, Auo:. 8-15. 




o 



VESSELS BUILT BY EDWARD WANTON. 217 

" Yesterday died at Roxbury of a paralitick disorder, under which he had 
been languishing several years, the Rev. Shearjashub Bourn, who for a 
long course of years was a minister in the first parish of Scituate and 
removed from thence to Roxbury soon after his first indisposition had pre- 
vented liis being farther useful in the ministry."* 

Edward Wanton was a very successful ship builder. He 
built many vessels for Benjamin Gallop of Boston. For three 
years, at least, 1700-01-02, Robert Barker was in company 
with him. Rol)^^ Barker was son of liol)ert and ancestor of 
the Pembroke family of Barkers. The first record of any par- 
ticular vessel being built here was for Benjamin Gallop in 1692, 
sip. "BLACKTIIORNE," 30 tons, Capt. Holland; owner, 
Benjamin Gallop. Later, vessels were built here as follows : 
1604, sip. "HOPEWELL," 40 tons, Capt. Joseph Vickars ; 
owner, l^enjamin Gallop, Boston. 1694, bark "MARTHA & 
ELIZABETH," 70 tons. Owners, Robert Howard, Giles 
Dyer, Merchants, William Everton, Benjamin Gallop, William 
Wallis and Florence Maccarty, of Boston. Also in 1694 
brig't'n "MARTHA and ELIZABETH," 70 tons, Capt. John 
Halsey. Owners, Robert Howard, AYilliam Everton, Benjamin 
Gallop, William AVallis, Giles Dyer and Florence Maccarty, 
Boston. In 1698, sip., afterwards brig't'n "BENJAMIN," 
20 tons, Capt. William Cole. Owner Benjamin Gallop of 
Boston. In 1699 sip. "UNITY," .30 tons, built at Scituate, 
Benjamin Gallop of Boston, owner. Also the same year, 1699, 
ship "DOVE," 100 tons. Owners, Capt. John Pullen, John 
Foster, Robert Howard, William Everton, John Hobby and 
Benjamin Gallop, all of Boston. Also the same year 1699, 
sip. "HOPEWELL," 30 tons, built at Scituate. Owners, 
Richard Claton of St. Christopher, merchant, Richard Shute, 
Andrew Belcher, and ]\Iary Edward, widow, of Boston, James 
Sawyer, Gloucester, and Edward Wanton of Scituate. Capt. 
Richard Shute. 

Robert Barker built in company with Edward Wanton, com- 
mencing about 1700, when they built the brig't'n " SARAH & 
ISABELLA," 50 tons. Owners, Capt. Thomas Tomlin, Robert 
Wing, William Tilly of Boston, Edward AVanton and Robert 
Barker of Scituate. Also in 1700 brig't'n "HANNAH," 60 
tons. Owner, Benjamin Gallop, and the same year, 1700, sip. 
"ISIARY," 20 tons, Capt. Joshua Cornish. Owners, Benjamin 
Gallop, Thomas Thornton, Boston, and Edward Wanton and 

* See Scituate Harbor Yards. 



218 VESSELS BUILT BY EDW. AV ANTOX AXD ROB't BARKER. 

Eobert Barker of Scituate. In 1701 sip. "MARGARET," 20 
tons, Ca|)t. Benjamin Thaxter. Owner, Benjamin Gallop. 
Also the fc^ame year 1701, sip. "HOPEWELL," 30 tons, Capt. 
Jonathan llender. Owners, Benjamin Gallon, Benjamin Alford, 
Adam Winthrop, Florence Maccarty and James Barry, all of 
Boston. In 1702 the brig't'n " ADVENTURE," 60 tons, Capt. 
John Halsey. Owners, Benjamin Gallop and John Devine. 
Also the same year, 1702, brig't'n "ADVENTURE," 40 tons, 
built at Scituate. Owners, Henry Franklin, Benjamin Gallop, 
Florence JMaccarty and John Devin, Boston, and also the same 
year, 1702, sip. "EXPENDITURE," 40 tons, Capt. Edward 
Lloyd. Owners, Thomas Peterson and Daniel Zachary, of 
Boston, and Edward AA'anton and Robert Barker of Scituate. 
In 1705 brig't'n " ENDEAVOR," 80 tons, built at Scituate. 
Owner, Benjamin Gallop of Boston. In 1706 sip. " HOPE- 
WELL," 20 tons, built at Scituate. Owner, Benj. Gallop of 
Boston. In 1707 brig't'n "ADVENTURE," 50 tons, built at 
Scituate. Owner, Benj. Gallop, of Boston. Also the same 
year 1707, sip. "MARY," 20 tons, built at Scituate. Owners, 
Tobias Oakman and Joseph Tilden of Marshheld and Edward 
Wanton of Scituate. Many of these vessels were l)uilt for 
privateers and used as such during the French War. Nothing 
has been found relative to the vessels built later by the 
Wantons as most of the records of ship building for over sixty 
years following are missing. The above therefore is only 
a partial list of vessels built at this yard during the early times. 
Edward Wanton like rdl of the w^ell-to-do citizens of his day 
kept slaves and in following the history of Wanton, there is 
found one slave that gave him much trouble, by continually 
running away. First, in an old paper there appears the follow- 
ing : • 

" Ran away from his master Edward Wanton of Scituate shij^ carpenter 
the 2ik1 of this inst. September. A mulatto man Servant named l)aniel 
about 19 years of age pretty tall, speaks good English, thick curled Hair, 
with bush behind, if not lately cut off. Black hat, cotton and linen shirt. 
He had with him two coats one a homemade dyed coat, the other a great 
coat dy'd and muddy color, striped homespun jacket Kersey Breeches, gray 
stockings, French fall shoes. Who so ever sliall take up said lluiiaway 
servant and him safely convey to his above said Master at Scituate or give 
any true intelligence of him so as his Master shall have him again, shall 
have satisfaction to Content beside all necessary charges paid." — Boston 
News Letter, Sept. 22. 1712. 

From the following, it appears that he ran away two years 
later from Edward AVanton's son-in-law, John Scott : 



"bald hill." 219' 

♦' Ran away from his Master, John Scott, the 17th of this instant August. 
A muUitto man named Daniel formerly belonging to Edward Wanton of 
Scituate ; he is indifferent, tall and slender, by trade a shipwright but 'tis 
thought designs for Sea. Who so ever shall stop, take etc., and bring him 
or give notice of him to his master at Newport, R. 1. shall be well re- 
warded and reasonable charges paid." — Boston Neios Letter, August 23rd, 
1714. 

The will of Edward Wanton dated in 1716 ffives : 

" To daughter Elizabeth (Scott) a mallato boy called Daniel, if he 
be found he being now run away." 

Josiah Barker was Naval Constructor at the Charlestown 
Navy Yard from about 1810 until 1842, wdien he was appointed 
Naval Constructor at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, where he 
built the ship of war "Portsmouth." He was a descen- 
dant of Robert and served his time on the banks of the North 
River, and built many years in St. Andrews, St. Johns, West- 
port, Weymouth and Pembroke. While at the Cbarlestowai 
Navy Yard he rebuilt the frigate "Constitution." The " Vir- 
ginia," 74, w\as built by him ; also the "Frolic," 22, " Indepen- 
dence," 74, and many others. 

In 1730, JoJui Stetson, a descendant of Cornet Robert, pur- 
chased the Wanton estate, and ship-building was carried on 
here by the Stetsons. The only records apparently in exist- 
ence now, of the vessels built by the Stetsons, are those of the 
few built by Ebenezer & Snow Stetson. Tradition says that 
vessels were built at "Bald Hill " by the Stetsons, which may 
be the fact ; but as it is in doubt at which place they built, alt 
the history of them, and of their ship-building, which the most 
diligent research has discovered, will be put into this chapter. 
That Ebenezer and Snow Stetson l)uilt vessels at one of these 
yards, it is certain, and possil)ly at "Bald Hill," or "Ball Hill." 
There is some question as to the origin of the name of this hill , 
situated on the old Michael Ford place, on the bank of North 
River. Mr. Cyrus Turner says its true name is "Ball Hill," 
and gives as his authority, or reason, that lialls or dances were 
given there, on platforms, "in ye olden time," and that the old 
Hanover Artillery used to go there to practice, with ball and 
powder, shooting at a target on the Brick-kiln side of the river. 
It is true that dances were held, and the Artillery did practice 
here ; but the true name is pr()])ably "Bald Hills," as the earliest 
records sj^eal; of them as such. In the church record of the 
Rev. Benj. Bass, under date of Oct. 27, 1741, is recorded the 



220 VESSELS BUILT BY THE STUTSONS. 

death of "William Ford, " drowned in the North River, near 
Bald Hills, and found about a week after." John Tower says, 
when very youns; he asked an old man why it was called '' Bald 
Hill," which he always understood to be the name, and he re- 
plied by taking otf his hat, and rubbing his smooth pate with 
his hand, saying, it was because it was as destitute of trees as 
his head was of hair. 

Ehenezer Stutson built, in 1748, a ship for George Stutson. 
In 1749, a schooner for Capt. Jonathan Tilden ; and the same 
year, 1749, the brig't'n "WILLIAM CLIFT," built, owned, 
and commanded by Eben. Stutson. Matthew Stutson did the 
iron work. Ebenezer and SnoAv Stetson were descendants of 
Eobert Stetson, commonly called "Cornet Robert," because he 
was cornet of the first Horse Company raised in Plymouth Col- 
ony in the year 1658, or 1659. Tradition says he came from 
County of Kent, Eng. He settled in Scituate in 1634, on the 
North River. His house stood on a sloping plain near the 
bank, and an unfailing spring, which supplied him and his de- 
scendants with water for two hundred years, still marks the 
spot. (See Third Herring Brook.) William, son of Robert, 
and great-grandson of Cornet Robert, was grandfather of Wil- 
liam, of Medford, and of Stephen. He died in 1761, his body 
being found in North River, opposite his house, under circum- 
stances of a very suspicious character. Cornet Robert had, 
among other children, a son, Capt. Benjamin, b. Aug., 1641. 
His son Benjamin was b. Feb. 16, 1668; mar. Grace Turner, 
Jan. 22, 1690. Their son Matthew, b. Nov. 5, 1690; mar. 
Hannah Lincoln, Sept. 24, 1730. Their son Matthew, b. Aug. 
24, 1731; mar. Mary Randall, of Pembroke, Feb. 5, 1761. 
Their son JNIatthew, b. March 3, 1763 ; d. June 9, 1782, of 
fever, in Boston. 

Thomas, b. Dec. 11, 1639, was the third son of Cornet Rob- 
ert. His son Ebenezer was born in 1693, and is buried on 
Church Hill. He is said to have been a very zealous church- 
man, and built the church on Church Hill, So. Scituate, at his 
own expense. The church here was originally founded July 
'i'r^, 1725, by Dr. Timothy Cutler, of Boston, who conducted 
divine service, after the Church of England form, in the North 
Meeting-house at Scituate^ which stood almost opposite the 
residence of the late Hon. Geo. Lunt, and where his family 
now reside. The church edifice was erected on Church Hill 
(now in Norwell) in 1731, and torn down in 1810. The tim- 



STETSON GENEALOGY. 221 

ber was in such good condition that part of it was used in the 
construction of the residence now occupied ])y Mr. James T. 
Tohnan, on Oakland avenue, near Hanover Four Corners, it 
being built by the then pastor of the church. The old panels 
may now be seen in the dining and other rooms. 

Snow Stetson, son of Ebenezer, b. March, 1730 ; mar. a 
French lady named Dupee, in Newport, R. I., and d. in the 
West Indies, aged 27. Their son, Snow Stutson, mar. Lydia 
Tohnan, of Scituate, Dec. 7, 1780, and d. in Bridgewater, 
leaving a widow and several children, who moved to Buffalo, 
N. y . He kept a tavern in Scituate before removing to Bridge- 
water. Capt. Thomas, a ship-master, was b. 1752, and was 
great-grandson of Thomas of 1639. Ebenezer of 1693, had 
also a son Ebenezer, b. Dec. 12, 1728, who d. in Antigua, W. I., 
1768 ; and a grandson Ebenezer, b. 1761, who lost his right 
leg while in the navy, during the Revolution, on board the 
privateer " Viper," in the engagement with the " Resolu- 
tion," 1780. His descendants live in Cambridge, Medford, 
and Boston. 

John, son of Sergeant Samuel, who was fourth son of Cornet 
Robert, built the tirst tide mill at the Harbor, and in 1730 
purchased the noted Wanton estate. Here he had a ship-yard, 
and many ships were built here during his time. His son Sam- 
uel, b. 1748, mar. Mary Clapp, of Scituate. He was a great 
.•-inirer and a shipwright, probably continuing the business in 
the" Wanton Yard. He d. 1788. 

Snoio Stutson built the gambrel-roofea house opposite the 
present residence of Chas. Randall, in Pembroke. Wm. J. 
Baker occupied the house before the present resident, Nathan 
Howard. Capt. Silas Morton's daughter, who now lives in 
Dedham, at the age of ninety-three, writes: "I remember 
Snow Stutson very well. He lived opposite my father's for 
many years, and was a brilliant, handsome man, but not of 
strong principles. While living there, he married Lydia Tol- 
man, of Scituate, and they had a large family of children. 
Three daughters and one son lived to adult age. The oldest 
daughter, Eliza, married for her first husband a Mr. Larkin ; 
after his death, Mr. Clapp. She had no children. The next 
daughter, Lydia, married a jNIr. Athearn, and left three chil- 
dren, who now reside in New York State. ^liss Eliza and 
Miss Frances lived at Niagara ; George, I do not know where. 



222 VESSELS BUILT BY SNOW STETSON. 

Snow Stetson's son John lived in Bridgewater, where Snow 
Stetson finally went, and, in his old age, while under an ab- 
erration of mind, committed suicide. His wife received a 
pension after his death, so he was probably in the Revolution- 
ary army." 

Geo. F. Athearn now lives at Niagara Falls, N. Y. Fanny 
is dead, and her sister Eliza's mind was so affected by the loss 
that it became necessary to place her in an asylum, where she 
now is. These two are the only direct descendants of Snow 
Stetson now living. In 1783, the sch. "HOPE," 38 tons, of 
Boston, was built on North River, and owned by Thomas Wal- 
ter of Boston, Snow Stutson of Scituate, and others ; Peleg 
Rogers,* master. Snow Stutson built, in 1785, the sch. "IN- 
DUSTRY," 42 tons, owned by him and Elisha Briggs.f In 
1786, was built the sch. " SALLY," 54 tons, owned byVilliam 
and Stephen Vinal, Nathaniel Wade, Jr., Thomas Mann, and 
Snow Stutson of Scituate ; in 1787, the sch. "AMERICA," 47 
tons, owned by Joseph Tolman and Snow Stutson, who was 
master of her in 1790; and in 1794, there was built here the 
sch. "BACHELDOR," which ran to North Carolina; also, in 
1796, the sch. "INDUSTRY," for Capts. Cook, Witherell, and 
Covin ; and in 179(5, the brig "PACIFIC." Thomas Stutson, 
of Scituate, went mate of her, and S. Dunham, captain. She 
was used as a blockade runner, and for smuggling goods from 
Havre-de-Grace to Lisbon and back. Ebenezcr, a descendant 
of the above Ebenezer, helped build this last vessel. Snow 
Stutson had been appointed Inspector of Vessels for the District 
including Hanover, Scituate, Pembroke, and Marshfield, prior 
to 1793, and probably gave up ship-building, as in 1801 we 
find him master of the sch. " Polly," of Scituate. Many 
descendants of the Stetson family were ship-builders or carpen- 
ters, and many learned their trade here and built elsewhere. 
Prominent among them were Ebenezer Stetson, d. INIarch 14, 
1881, aged 93 years, 5 months, buried at the First Parish Cem- 
etery, Scituate ; and Matthew, d. July 29 , 1888, aged 71 years, 
buried at Church Hill. Thomas Stetson is buried in Hatch- 
ville. George Stetson, son of Melzar and brother of Matthew, 
is now living at Medford. The following are members of the 



* See Roger Yards. 

t See Brick-kiln Yard, Continued Chapter. 



SHIP-BUILDERS WHO WENT FROM NORTH RIVER. 22o 

Stetson family who were ship- carpenters, and went from Scit- 
uate to other ship-yards : 

Melzar Stetson, h. 1805, went to South Boston. 

Charles " " 1752, " New Bedford. 

Thomas " " 1766, " Barnstable. 

Lincoln " "1774, " Salem. 

Wiswell " "1785, " Kingston. 

Jotham " " 1794, " Medlbrd. 

Elisha " "1799. " Medford. 

John " "1811, " Medford. 

Alpheus " " 1794, " South Boston. 

Also, William Turner went to Boston from a North Eiver 
ship-yard. "Uncle Josh" Stetson, the wag of the ship-yards, 
was a descendant of "Cornet" Robert. One day, while eating 
dinner in the work-house, the men were discussing which ani- 
mals would fight most desperately. Some said the lion, some 
said a tiger, and so on. "Uncle Josh" said, "I saw two cats 
fioht once 'till there was nothing left but their tAvo tails." 
" Uncle Josh " was called a great joker. A man cut his knee, 
in the yard, one day, and "Uncle Josh " told him he ought to 
have a " scabbard on his axe and a skillet on each knee ;" but 
the tables were turned on him when he fell from a vessel into 
the water. One of the workmen looked over the side of the 
vessel, and asked, "Are your boots tight, Joshy?" At another 
time he Avent out in a boat fishing on the river, with his two 
brothers, one of whom could not swim. They upset the boat, 
and had hard work to save themselves and the brother who 
could not swim. After they reached home, "Uncle Josh" re- 
lated what had happened, and said, "What pleased me most, 
was to see Melzar's doughnuts bobbing on the water." 

The Delanos built on the AVanton Yard, located on what was 
called the "Molly Stetson Place," soon after 1770. Benja- 
min Delano, the first of that family who built here, came from 
Pembroke in 1770, and settled on the ancient Richard Dwelley 
place, on the north side of the bank of the brook then known 
as Dwelley's Brook, but later as Till's Creek. His house Avas 
on the east side of the road, and has since been occupied by 
Major Samuel Foster. The Delano sisters now own the old 
place, and it is occupied by John H. Corthell. The earliest 
record that is preserved of any of Delano's vessels is in 1796, 
the sch. " ROVER," 79 tons, of Duxbury ; owner : Silvanus 



224 



DELANO GENEALOGY. 



Delano, of Duxliury, shipwright; surveyor, Samuel Delano, 
Jr. ; built at Seituate, afterward sold to Nantucket. Benjamin 
Delano Avas succeeded by his son. For a l)rief account of cer- 
tain members of the Duxbury branch of this family, see the 
continued chapter of the "'Brick-kiln Yard." The following 
account of a branch of the Delano famdy, was prepared many 
years ago 1)y the late Miss Thomas of Marshficld : " Lemuel 
Delano, a descendant, doubtless, of Philip De La Noye, one of 
the Pilgrims, mar. Mary Eames, 20th April, 17(52. Children : 
1. Mary, b. Jan. 23, 17(i3. 2. Thomas, b. Jan. 25, 176G ; 
bap. May 25, 176G. 3. William, b. Jan. 27, 1770; bap. May 
20, 1770. 4. Elizabeth, b. March 25, 1772; bap. May 17, 
1773. This family removed to Sunderland, Mass. They had 
also, 5. Charles, bap. Aug. 27, 1774. 

Hezadiah Delano, of Duxbury, mar. Mary Taylor, 1731. 

William Delano, of Seituate, mar. Eleanor Stevens, 17()1. 

Joseph Delano, mar. Judith Damon, and had children: 1. 
Joseph, bap. Aug. 31, 1755; mar. Mary Thomas; d. in the 
lievolution. 2. Judith, bap. April 17, 1757 ; mar. John 
Hatch. 3. Jesse, bap. July '1'2, 175U ; mar. Margaret Lea vitt. 
4. Zebulon, bap. June 21, 17(31. 5. Mary; mar. Luther 
White. 6. Hannah, bap. July "i'l^ 1769 ; mar. Ronse Bourne, 
Jr. 7. Edward, bap. July 'i'6, 1771. Joseph Delano mar 
2nd, Lucy Cushing, widow of Ron.se Bourne, and had one 
chik 



I". <. Ji<awaru, oap. duiy zo, imi. josepn jje 
id, Lucy Cushing, widow of Ron.se Bourne, anc 
lild, Barak, l)ap. March 22, 1778. 



>,^ was born in 1775. 

^^^^"^ He built many 

y£//Cj^r-i ^y^ /? ■ — very large vessels. 

V/^^^Pr- ^>^^^/^^ I^^■io^to the time 

- — L \^ ' lie l)uilt here, the 

Wanton Yard had l)ecn divided into two yards ; the Delanos 
built in one yard, and the Fosters soon began building in 
the other. After serving his time, and building one vessel in 
Hanover in the year 1799, spoken of in the account of tliDse 
yards, William Delano came to this yard and built the same 
year, 1799, the ship "INDUS," 338 tons, of Boston. The next 
year he built two, as follows: 1800. Sch. "HANNAH," 118 
tons of Boston. 1800. Ship "HARLEQUIN," 33() tons, of 
Boston, two decks and three masts, drawing eighteen feet of 
water, (^lore than any other vessel built on the river.) In 
1801, he built the ship "ALEXANDER HODGDEN," 377 



VESSELS BUILT BY BENJ. AND AVM. DELANO. 225 

tons, of Boston, which was one of the larijest vessels built at 
this yard. In 1802 he built the ship " C'OLUMBINE," 270 
tons, of Boston. 

Benjamin Delano built here, in 1804, the sch. "CHARLES," 
123 tons, of Duxbury. This is the last vessel on record of 
which Benjamin Delano was the master carpenter. 

There was built at this yard, by William Delano, in 1805, 
the ship "TOPAZ," 385 tons, which was one of Delano's 
largest vessels, two decks and three masts ; owned by David 
Sears, at Boston. William Delano was master carpenter, in 
180(i, of the ship "Granges" or "GANGES," 215 tons, of 
Boston. This was prolwbly the " Ganges " condemned at Tul- 
cahuano. Chili, in June, 1858. In 1806, he built the ship 
•' AUGUSTUS," 325 tons, of Boston ; and in 1801), the ship 
"IDA," 363 tons, of Boston. The next vessel built by the 
Delanos was one of the two famous vessels spoken of by Deane 
as being the largest vessels ever built on JVorth River, l)ut he 
failed to give either their names or any further particulars con- 
cernmg them. The first was built in 1810, by William Delano, 
and the second was finished in 1815 by his family. The first 
built in 1810 was the ship "LADY MADISON," 450f, 
tons, of New York. She was 112 feet long, 30 broad, and 15 
deep, and was owned by Thomas Hazard, Jr., of New Bedford, 
and Jacob Barker, of New York. The following anecdote, 
related by F. C. Sanford of Nantucket, and by Israel H. Sher- 
man of Norwell, is familiar to all the old merchants of New 
York and ^ev7 Bedford, and many of Boston. The correctness 
of this story is attested by the fjict that it was told to Mr. San- 
ford hy Wharton Barker, grandson of Jacob Barker. Barker 
"ran" the Government at AYashington, so to speak, during 
Madison's time, by his great influence and wealth. Jacob Bar- 
ker was son-in-law of Thomas Hazard. At one time, the "Lady 
Madison "was out on a whaling voyage, and on her home- 
ward passage, laden with sperm oil, she encountered much 
rough weather. The delay alarmed her owners, who feared she 
was lost. Jacob Barker, who was a Quaker, went to the in- 
surance office, and requested the agent to make out a policy for 
the insurance of the ship, but not to sign it until the agent had 
heard from him. In the mean time, the Quaker heard that the 
ship was lost. He immediately sent his boy to the insurance 
office, with the message, " If thee hast not signed the policy 
thee need not, for I have heard from my ship." The agent, 



226 LARGEST VESSEL EVER BUILT ON NORTH lUVER. 

supposing the ship to be safe, and wishing to get the premium, 
immediately signed the policy and sent it to the Quaker. To 
his dismay, he found that the ship was lost, and had to pay 
one-half of the insurance in settlement. She was lost on 
"Goodwin Sands," in the English Channel, about 1815. Jacob 
Barker died in 1872, aged 92. 

William Delano probably built few vessels during the last 
years of his life, though he may have begun the " Alt. Ver- 
non," which was finished in 1815 by Samuel Hartt, a relative of 
his wife's, whose son, Joseph T., mar. Nellie L., dau. of Dr. 
Brownell, and had a son Joseph. William Delano d. in 1814, 
leaving seven children: 1. William H. 2. Benjamin F., b. 
Sept. 17, 1809. 3. Edward H., b. Aug. 12, 1811. 4. Mary. 
5. Prudence. (3. Sarah. 7. Lucy. The three latter now re- 
side in Norwell, in a beautiful place that overlooks the old 
homestead and the far distant sea. William H. and Benjamin 
F. worked in the ship-yard in company from the time they were 
old enough until the former removed to East Boston. William 
H. was often called "Lord North " about this time. The " Mt. 
Vernon" referred to before, was the largest vessel ever 
BUILT ON THE NoRTH RiVER, and the excitement caused by the 
building and launching of this ship is well remembered by the 
older people of to-day, who have not yet ceased to talk of it. 

The ship "MOUNT VERNON," 464 tons, was built in 1815, 
and sold to Philadelphia. /Samuel Hartt was her master car- 
penter. It is certainly wonderful how a vessel of her size 
could be launched from this yard ; but such is the fact, and she 
was gotten out of the river safely, and was a well-built and suc- 
cessful ship. Samuel Hartt was Naval Constructor on the Ports- 
mouth and other yards. He died at So. Scituate, Dec. 18, 
1860, aged 78 years. Benjamin F. Delano w^as educated under 
the Rev. Samuel Deane, and, dis])laying quite a talent for ship- 
building, he was placed in the draughting office of the Brooklyn 
Navy Yard, where he served his time. He then returned to 
So. Scituate, and, in company with his oldest brother and Jo- 
seph Clapp, built, in 1829, the sch. "ONLY DAUGHTER," JO 
tons, of Hingham ; owners, Seth Gardner, Jr., Scituate, Hi- 
ram and Capt. Thomas Jefferson Gardner of Hanover, and 
others. 




THE DELAXOS. 227 

were the master carpenters. Jo- 
seph Clapp has two grandsons 
living, Herbert and Joseph, sons 
of John Otis of Norwell . Joseph 
mar. Lizzie, dau. of Joseph 
Corthcll. In 1833, Stephen 
White and others bought Grand Island, on Niagara River, and 
engaged Benj. F. Delano to convert the forest of oak timber 
that was there into vessels. He took with him his two broth- 
ers and twenty picked men from his native town. The venture 
proved a success, and they built seven vessels. A $100,000 
hotel is about to be erected on Grand Island. He also built the 
first steam vessel that plied between East Boston and Boston. 
In 1847 he received an appointment as Naval Constructor, and 
was stationed at Portsmouth, N. H., and from there was trans- 
ferred, in 1850, to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where he was 
Chief Naval Constructor, and was retired June 11, 1873. At 
Portsmouth he constructed the "Saranac." He constructed 
twenty-one war vessels from 1861-G5, among them the darmg 
dispatch boat "Iroquois," the "Oneida," "Xy^^ck," " Wampa- 
noag," and "Mattawaska." He also converted numbers of 
harmless merchantmen, bought by the Government, into death- 
dealing war vessels, and worked day and night over his plans 
for their reconstruction. He d. April 30, 1882, leaving a 
widow, Jane, dau. of Seth Foster, who now resides in Brook- 
lyn, and one son, Alfred Otis, living in Norwell. The life of 
Edward II. Delano was not unlike that of his brother Benja- 
min. He served his time in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was with 
his brother later, and in 1848 was commissioned Naval Con- 
structor, and oi'dered to Pensacola, and afterward transferred 
to Norfolk and Charlestown. He built the U. S. steam frigate 
"Merrimac," and Admiral Farragufs flagship, the "Hartford." 
He d. at Charlestown, Mass., April 9, 1859, while in charge of 
that station. He mar. Mary li., dau. of William James of 
Scituate, by whom he had two sons, William E. and Edward 
Franklin. He mar., 2nd, June 1(), 1858, Avoline S. Frost, of 
So. Berwick, Me. The Fosters built next to the Delanos, and 
at times in company with them. 

_^^^ /_ was the first of this family 

^C Oyf^^C'^^^ recorded as having built 

^ here. He used to say that 

in 17G0 his friends earnestly 

advised him to abandon his 

design of becoming a ship- 




228 FOSTER GENEALOGY. 

Wright because the timber was so far exhausted ; they thought 
the business must soon fail, but he did become a shipwright and 
obtamed enough tnnber to successfully carry on the art, and his 
sons also, for many years. Certainly there were some large 
trees standing at that time in Scituate, as later a tree of immense 
size was cut there, as appears in an item taken from the Boston 
JEvening Post of March 2, 1772. 

"We hear from Scituate that on the 12th ult. a tree was cut there and 
brought to tlie mill which made 2809 feet of inch boards, 2000 shingles and 
four cords of wood." 

Elisha Foster was a descendant of Edward the Liwyer, one of 
the men of Kent, who settled in Kent street, Scitiuite (after- 
ward Cai)t. Webb's place), in 1633. His children were 1. 
Tnnothy, b. KUO; 2. Elizabeth, b. 1(145. Timothy's children 
were 1. Kuth, b. 1664; 2. Elizabeth, b. 1667; 3. Naomi, b. 
1668 ; 4. Hatherly, b. 1671 ; 5. Rebecca, b. 1675 ; 6. Timothy, 
b. 1681; 7. Edward, b. 1682; 8. Thomas, b. 1686; 9. Eliza- 
beth, b. 1688. Hatherly, b. 1671 (son of Timothy, Sen.), 
mar. Barthshua Turner and had children : 1. IVIargaret, b. 1699 ; 
2. Jose])h, b. 1702; 3. Ruth, b. 1704; 4. Timothy, b. 1706; 
5. Elisha, b. 1708; 6. John, b. 1711; 7. Elizabeth, b. 1721. 
Elisha, son of Hatherly, mar. Temperance Freeman, of Har- 
wich, in 1739. Tlieir children were 1. John, b. 1740; 2. 
Barthshua, b. 1742; 3. Elisha, b. 1745; 4. Temperance, b. 
1747; 5. Sarah, b. 1749; 6. Mary, b. 1751; 7. Ruth, b. 
1754. 

Elisha, son of Elisha, mar. Grace Barstow of Hanover in 
1769. Their children were: 1. Capf. /Seth, b. 1770. He was 
a ship-budder and mar. Abigail Otis. They had : 1.0tis(?) 
who died ; 2. Jane (wife of nenjannn Delano). 2. 3Iargaret, 
b. 1772, who mar. Capt. Samuel Tilden of JSIarshfield, and had 
children : 1. IVIargaret (wife of Capt. Benj. Smith of Duxbury) ; 

2. Samuel ; 3. Mary, wife of William Smith (of East Bridge- 
water). 3. Elisha, b. 1775, the store-keeper who furnished 
"black-strap" and other necessaries of life to the yards. He 
mar. a Miss Turner and had sons : 1. Joshua Turner, 2. George, 

3. Phillip, and 4. Henry (who is now living in Berkeley, Cal.). 
George and Phillip are dead. An account of J. Turner will be 
given later. Elisha had daughters : 1. Grace, who was the first 
wife of Captain Nath'l Barstow of Hanover, and left one dau. 
Grace. 2. Sally, who mar. Isaac Haskins and left two chil- 
dren (1. Esther, mar. Edward Barnard; 2. Edward H.) ; 3. 



VESSELS BUILT BY ELISHA FOSTER. 22D 

Mary, whom ar. Capt. William IL TaIl)ot and left three sons: 
1. William, 2. Frank and 3. Richmond. 4. Mary Frances, who 
died. It will l)e seen that of Elisha's seven children, two are 
now living. 4. Freeman, a physician, b. 1777, married ; he d. 
July 18, 1863. 5. Samuel, b. 1779, was a ship-builder, mar. 
Sarah Delano and had children: 1. Sarah Delano, b. 1810; 2. 
Mary Louisa, b. 1824. Sarah Delano, mar. John K. Nash in 
1832. They had children: 1. John Cushino-, born 1839, mar. 
Sarah Brown in 1860 and had children : 1. Mary Louisa Foster, 
b. 1862, (mar. Arthur L. Power in 1883. They have children : 
I.Nelson Foster, b. 1884; 2. Samuel Foster, b. 1885; 3. 
Howard Stone, b. 1887) ; 2. Sarah, b. 1865; 3. Helen Eliza, 
b. 1868 ; 6. Charles, b. 1781, a farmer, mar. and had children 
1. Walter; 2. Charles. 7. Temperance, b. 1782, (died early). 
8. Daniel, b. 1787, mar. Leafy Sampson and had children : 1. 
Seth ; 2. Caroline ; 3. Benjamin P. ; 4. Helen. 9. Walter, b. 
1789, a ship-builder, mar. Betsey Pierce, no children. 

Elisha Foster, who is described as a heavy, stout man, built 
alone until 1803-4. Li 1795 he built the brigantine " GAR- 
LAND," 128 tons, for Daniel Sargent of Boston. The good old 
blacksmith at Foster's Yard was in the habit of lendinir his 
narrow hoe to a young ap})rentice, who was very tardy in 
returning it, and one day when he came for it the old man 
said, " When you have done with it, you just put legs to it and 
send it home." Elisha Foster built the following \'essels : the 
''CASPIAN," and in 1800 the ship "HANNAH & ELIZA," 
255 tons, of Boston ; in 1801, the sch. " GEORGE," &2 tons, 
of Chatham, OAvners, Samuel & Elisha Foster, Jr., of Scit- 
aate and others, afterwards sold to Gloucester ; and the same 
year, 1801, ship "FORTUNE," 339 tons, of Boston, one of 
the largest vessels built at this yard. She had 2 decks and 3 
masts. He built the same year, 1801, ship "PERSEVER- 
ANCE," 214 tons, of Boston, afterwards of Nantucket. He 
built in 1802, the ship " O'CAIN," 280 tons, of Boston, which 
(" O'Cain ") was quite a noted ship, and when on the northwest 
coast she was commanded ])y Capt. Blanchard, of Briahton, 
she was lost in 1826 at Valclalia, coast of Chili. The ship 
''ASIA," 274 tons, of Boston, was probably built by Foster in 
1803; she was sold May 21, 1813 to a Spaniard and called 
the "Fer7iando Septrmo." The next year Elisha Foster took 
into partnership his son Elisha and thev launched in bsuo the sch. 
•* FAVORITE," 74 tons, of Chatham, owners, Elisha Foster, 



230 VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS. 

Sr. and Jr., of Scituate. In 1807 thev built two ships, the 
"GOLCONDA" and the "ELIZABETH," both afterward 
hailed from New Bedford. In 1809 the Fosters built a s/n'p 
sold to Salem. In 1810 they built the ship " FRANCES ANN," 
for the launching of which $5.20 was spent for lemons. In 
1811 they built the ship "ROWLAND." Both the above 
named vessels were whaling from New Bedford later. Also in 
1811 they built the ship "HELLENOH." 

Charles Foster, in 1811, built the ship "FRANCISCAN." 
Joseph Tolman worked on her. The ship "AMERICA" was 
built by the Fosters in 1812. Capt. Peleg Kent, son of Peleg 
Kent and father of Smith Kent, commanded her. Very dull 
times followed the war of 181 2, and one of the vessels that was 
built at Foster's Yard lay two or three years before launching, 
until the Embargo Act was off. She was finally launched and 
much admired as she lay at Union Bridge until her spars and 
rigging were sent down from Boston ; she had a very fancy 
fiirure head of an ea^le. A "Kanaka" or Hawaiian came down 
to help rig her and used to amuse the ship-carpenters at noon 
time by lighting their pipes by rubbing two pieces of wood 
together. At this yard there was also a vessel launched at one 
time that beat the Kanaka, the friction caused by launching 
making a fire so great that the Captain lighted his pipe from 
the blaze. The village minister at Scituate was considered a 
good judge of horses as well an historian. One day a certain 
man was trying to sell a horse, and when asked how old he was, 
answered that ]\Ir. Deane the minister told him that the horse 
was nine years old. Before buying, the purchaser thought it 
well to ask Mr. Deane, who replied, "Yes, I did tell him so; 
but that was nine years ago." The Fosters built two vessels 
for David Ellis of Boston, also one for Capt. Howes of the Cape, 
who went master of her. On her first voyage Capt. Howes ran 
near the shore on the other side of Cape Cod to signal his 
family a good bye, l)ut running too near she struck and capsized ; 
all hands were saved except one of the crew. Phillip Foster 
was on her. 

Prior to 1815 Elisha Foster had taken into the firm his sons 
Seth, Samuel and Walter, and it was styled Elisha Foster & 
Sons. Walter was an officer in the 2nd Regiment of ]\Iilitia. 
The " WARSAW," a New Bedford whaler, was built here. The 
Fosters were also interested in the bark "Maria Theresa" (built 
at Block House Yard). AVilliam Delano died in 1814, and 



VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS. 2S1 

Samuel Hartt finished his hist vessel, and then,accordino: to the 
old Foster account books, sold in 1815 one pair of bilo;eways 
and launching plank to Elisha and Samuel Foster, and judging 
from the number of vessels the Fosters built the next year they 
probal)ly occu[)ied both yards. There was built at this yard by 
Elisha Foster & Sons, in 1815, the ship "ATLAS," 360 tons, 
of Boston. This vessel had 2 decks and 3 masts, and her 
length was 102 feet. In 1823 she was cast away off the Port of 
Helder, Germany, and was a total loss. The same year they 
built a vessel that became famous the world over, and a book 
was published giving her history. 

This was m 1815 ; the ship " GLOBE," 293 tons. Her keel 
was 78 feet; l)eam, 26 feet; hold, 11 feet; between decks, 5 
feet 6 inches ; the mainmast, 63 feet ; foremast, 58 feet ; niiz- 
zen, 55 feet. This vessel was the first to bring two thousand 
barrels of sperm oil into the Laiited States. A horril)le mutiny 
occurred on her in 1824 off Fanning's Island, in which captain 
and mates were killed. The following is gleaned from the 
account published by the two survivors, Hussey and Lav: 
The ship " Globe " sailed from Nantucket 20th Dec., 1822, on a 
whaling voyage. She was then owned by C. Mitchell &, Co., 
and commanded by Thomas Worth of Edgartown, Martha's 
Vineyard. She sailed direct to the Sandwich Islands, where 
she arrived May 1st, 1823. At Hawaii they received a wel- 
come supply of potatoes, sugar-cane, yams, cocoanuts, bananas, 
fish, etc. At Oahu, another of the islands, six of the crew 
deserted at night ; two were re-captured, but again escaped. 
From Oahu, the "Globe" sailed on a cruise to Japan ; then re- 
turned to the Sandwich Islands for vegetables, and sailed south 
towards Fanning's Islands. Jan. 26, 1824, Joseph Thomas in- 
sulted the captain, and was punished by being whipped with the 
end of a main ])untling. Whether this had anything to do 
with the murderous mutiny, which followed on the evening of 
the same day, is not known, but it would seem as if the mutiny 
had been planned some time before. On the night of Jan. 2{), 
Samuel B. Comstock and Silas Payne went into the cabin, 
taking with them an axe, knives, and muskets with fixed l)ayo- 
nets, and murdered the captain and the first and second mates, 
by shooting and then running their bodies through with knives 
and bayonets, seeming to enjoy their writhings in pain and 
their entreaties for mercy. The bodies were then thrown over- 
board. A rope was made fast to the feet of John Lambert, 



232 SHIP "globe." 

the second mate, and he was pulled up on the deck and thrown 
over while yet alive, after practising cruelties the harrowing 
details of which one would loathe to relate. Is it strange the 
rest of the company were stunned with fright, fearing lest they 
might be dealt with in the same manner? Comstock and Payne 
had accomplices who were in the plot. Among these was^Vil- 
liam Humphrey, the former steward, who was hung, by order 
of Comstock, on Jan. 29, to a studding-sail boom, rigged out 
eight feet upon the fore yard, for treachery to his leaders, 
though it was not proved. Not daring to go to any civilized 
port, it was decided by the nuitineers to run the vessel ashore 
on one of the Mulgrave Islands, and, after taking out the pro- 
visions, and stripping her, to burn her to the water's edge, and 
live the rest of their clays with the natives. While unloading 
in the harbor, and before all the effects and provisions were 
ready to divide, Comstock gave some of the clothing and other 
articles to the natives. This caused trouble, and-, fearing lest 
he would lead the natives against them, they shot him on the 
morning of Feb. 17, 1824, and Payne nearly severed his head 
from his body with an axe. Thus ended the life of the blood- 
thirsty leader of the nuitineers, twenty-two days from the be- 
ginning of his hellish career. The ship "Globe" was this day 
put in charge of six men, under Gilbert Smith, and, during the 
night, they made sail and escajied from the island, leaving their 
murderous companions, and some of the innocent ones, behind. 
After a long and boisterous passage, they arrived, in June, at 
Valparaiso, where the " Globe " was taken possession of by the 
American Consul. From here she sailed for Nantucket, where 
she arrived Nov. 21, 1824. Of the men left at the Mulgrave 
Islands, all l)ut two were massacred by the natives. Cyrus M. 
Hussey, of Nantucket, and William Lay, of Saybrook, Conn., 
were saved by friendly natives, and tinally rescued l)ytheU. S. 
man-of-war " Dolphin," Capt. John Percival, after living twenty- 
two months on these islands. The " Globe " was sold out and 
broken up at Buenos Ay res in 1828. 

On Sept. 21, 1815, Foster & Co. received $520 to bind a 
contract to build a schooner for Caleb Nickerson of Chatham. 
It was finished in 181(3. In 1816, Samuel Rogers,* of IMarsh- 
field, was taken into the firm, and the same year 



* See Roger Yards 




cA^r^/cW»^^'" 



fCTT' 




VESSELS BUILT BY SETII & SAMUEL FOSTER & CO. 233 

and Samuel 
l\()ger.s built 
the "BETSEY 
PIERCE," 73 

tons, of Scituate, named for AVulter Foster's wife. In Jan., 
1817, Seth, Samuel, and Walter Foster, and Samuel lloo-ers, 
agreed to l)uild a schooner in company, under the firm name of 
Seth & Sanniel Foster & Co. To show the interest that each 
had in the lirm, the divisions made on a ship in 1<S21 were as 
follows : 

Seth Foster, 3 i)arts. 

Saml. Foster, 3^ " 

Saml. Rogers, . . . . . . 1^ " 

Walter Foster, U " 

Elisha Foster, Jr., ^ " 

Total, .... 10 

July, 1817, they contracted to build a sloop for Capt. Caleb 
Nickerson, at $29.50 per ton. There was l)uilt here, in 181(5, 
the sch. "BANKER," 73 tons, of Chatham, Seth & Samuel 
Foster, master carpenters ; also in 1816, the sch. "OCEAN," 
73 tons, of Chatham ; Seth & Samuel Foster, master carpen- 
ters. Samuel Tolman, Jr., did joiner work for Capt. Seth Fos- 
ter & Co., June 1, 1817, on the sch. "GOV. BROOKS," 72 
tons, built for Capt. Atkins of Provincetown ; June 14, sch. 
"BETSEY & MARY ; " June 3, sloop "NANCY." On Sept. 
10, 1817, was launched the sloop "RAPID," 48 tons, of Scit- 
uate, later of Chatham. She was built by Seth & Samuel Fos- 
ter. The " Rapid " was at one time a Boston and Nantucket 
packet. There was also built here, the same year, the sloop 
"BEDBUG," and the sch. "BETSEY & POLLY," 51 tons, 
probably for Capt. Harding. It will be seen from the above 
that the Fosters built six vessels in 1817, which was the largest 
number of vessels built at any yard on the North River during 
any one year (Smith's Yard, Hanover only excepted). This 
year, Joseph R. Tolman disposed of his interest in Foster's 
vessel, built probal)ly during the war, as a receipt of which 
the following copy states : 

" Scituate, Jan. ii, 1817. 

This will certify that I have sold all my concerns in Mr. Foster's 
war sJiip to Samuel Tolman, Jr., by agreement between Seth Fos- 
ter and myself. f^SigJied) Joseph R. Toi.MAN." 



234 VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS. 

In 1818, the Fosters built two vessels which were the talk of 
the town while they w^ere being built, one in each yard. They 
were the ships "PACIFIC," 314 tons, and "PERUVIAN," 334 
tons. Oak, ash and pine were used in their construction. Also 
in the "Pacific" were used twenty-two spruce knees, ])ou<2:ht of 
Thatcher Magoun, Pembroke. One thousand " trunnels " or 
tree-nails bought of Jonathan Sampson for $7.84 and a but- 
tonwood log. The ash came from Pembroke. Capt. Luther 
Tilden put the lower deck in the "Peruvian" for $!!»(), 
and Matthew Tower furnished the capstan for $25. Samuel 
Curtis was paid $1.14 for twelve gallons of cider for the launch- 
ing of both ships. INIatthew Tower was a direct descendant of 
Benjamin Tower of Hingham, whose son Benjamin had a son 
James, who was father t)f Matthew. John, the common ances- 
tor, mar. IMargnret Ibrook, a remarkably handsome woman, 
sister of Mrs. llobait, whose husband, Rev. Peter Hobart, 
edited "Hobart's Journal." (See Briggs' Yard.) Matthew 
had brothers and sisters, viz. : 1. John, 1st, killed at Charles- 
town. 2. Lynde. 3. John, 2nd, died in Dartmoor Prison. 
4. David, who was father of John Tower, editor of the "North 
River Pioneer," spoken of elsewhere in this book. 5. Solo- 
mon. 6. Lucy. 7. Mary. 8. Rachel ; and others, many of 
whom left children who have families in Hanover, Scituate,and 
Hinuham. (See "Historv of Ilinoham.") The "Peruvian" 
cost"; to build, $10,428.86; and the "Pacific" cost, to build, 
$87()7.()9. The "Pacific" was lost on Kodiac, near Alaska, in 
1866, then owned in Nantucket. The "Peruvian " was whaling 
in the Pacific, in 1820, under Capt. Christopher Wyer, and 
belonged to C. Mitchell & Co., of Nantucket. In 1827, she 
lost her first mate, Paul Bunker. He harpooned a black fish, 
which struck and killed him. She continued whaling in the 
Pacific until 1857, when she was broken up at New Bedford, 
thirty-nine years old. Early the same year, or in January, 

1818, the firm contracted for, and be^an to build, the sch. 
"MINERVA," of 70 tons, for Capt. Atldns of Provincetown, 
who used her whalinof oif the Western Islands. Also, in 1818, 
the sch. " WELCO:VIE RETURN," 77 tons, of Boston ; and in 

1819, the sch. "RANGER," 57 tons, of Boston, of which Wal- 
ter Foster was the master carpenter. The same year, 1819, the 
firm built a ship which they named after the family, the ship 
"FOSTER," 317 tons, that cost to build, $10,057.03. The 
bottom of the "Foster" was pierced by a horn-fish on her first 
voyage, and the horn was left there. When they sawed it off 



VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS. 235 

in the hold, the water rushed through the opening one thousand 
strokes per hour. This was in the Pacific Ocean. In 1820, 
she was at the Hawaiian Ishnid, on a voyage to China.* In 
1825, she was sheathed partly with leather. In 1847, when 
under Capt. Francis C- Coffin of Xantucket, she shipped eight 
thousand gaUons of od to London, and was condemned at the 
Seychelle Islands, near Zanzibar. The Fosters built, in 1820, 
the sch. "COMBINE," 99 tons, of Boston ; and the same year, 
1820, the brig " :\IARGARP:T," 185 tons, of Duxbury ; owners, 
Seth, Samuel, and Elisha Foster, Sr. and Jr., and Cashing Otis of 
Scituate. Nathan Tilden worked joinering on the "^Margaret." 
In 1821, they built the ship "LION," 326^ons, for Christopher 
Mitchell & Co., Nantucket. She was lost, during her tirst 
voyage, on the rocks, while making Fanning's Island, in the 
South Pacific. Also in 1821, the Fosters built the ship "CY- 
RUS," 328 tons, which lasted until 1845, when she was con- 
demned at Rio Janeiro. The next year, 1822, they built a 
"hidi deck schooner," the "NEW PRISCILLA," 125 tons, of 
Chatham. Also in 1822, the ship "JAPAN," 332 tons, of 
Boston. She was afterward sold to Paul Mitchell & Sons, Nan- 
tucket, and in 1825 was whaling in the Pacific, under Capt. 
Shubael Hussey. In 1840, she was owned by Barker & 
Athearn, smd still whaling in the Pacific. She, however, came 
home soon after, and sailed for San Francisco in 1849, where 
she was broken up in 1851. F. C. Sanford writes: "I am. 
happy to say that I was there about that time. There were a 
thousand ships in port, from every part of the world, and of 
every rig, from a Chinese junk to a line-of-battle ship." Seth 
and Saniuel Foster & Co. built the sloop "ALBION," in 1823, 
which was used as a North River and Boston packet for many 
years. Like some other North River packets, she had one-half 
as many owners as she was tons large. In 1823, Samuel Tol- 
man, Jr., bousfht of Seth and Samuel Foster, one-fifteenth part 
of the hull of the sloop "Albion," for $(56. The sloop "Albion" 
was 28 tons, of Scituate, and owned by Constant F. Oakman, 
Marshfield ; Benjamin Rogers, Peml)roke ; Samuel Deane^ Eb- 
enezer T. Fogg, Seth and AValter Foster, Lemuel Turner, John 
Nash, John Thaxter, Joseph Oldham, Thomas Cushing, Aaron 
or probably Anson Robbins, Consider ]\Ierritt, Jr., and Samuel 
Tolman of Scituate. This important boat was afterward sold 



* For account, see Sanford's article on '' History of Noted Vessels," Boston Daily 
Advertiser, Dec, 1871. 



2;w; 



vi:,ssi'.i,s luiii.i' in iiii'. i'(>sii;u8. 



(() Hosloii. Tlw l''()sl(M-s jilso Imill, ill isi';;, Ihc I)ii^- "NI'IP- 

'rnNK,"2I I Ions; Diivid KIlis, ol" Uosloii, ownrr. 'r'li.-y hnill, 

iUv lU'xl yciir, llu' Imil!," " I'itniccr," :il lli(> limMclnni:; <»!' wliicli 

liflccn j)oiiii<ls of l:iiul», Itrcad, ;iiul smikc arc cliniu'cd on (Iu5 

I.ooUm III $a.()0. Hii-' " n()Nl':i';i:." I.iiill in iS^i, 2;'>l ions, 

ol" l)ii\ltnry, wiis owned hy Sclli, Sanintl, and Mlislia P'oslt-r, 
«^' 1 I " r 1^' .:i....t . " I .4\ i^M I I I . I." 



oi I Mixitnry , WHS o\\ iKMi hy r^ciii, pianinti, and iMisiia i<osicr, 
Si', and dr., of Sciliialc, and ollwis. She was sold lo K/.yn 
\\ Cslon, and l>y liini lo New iMMllord parlies. Mlislia rolinaii 
did IIh^ planking', and l)aiii('l Mall lli(> joiner worU. Laler, slu^ 
WHS eliaiif^cMJ iiilo a hark, and in IS72 was held al MaiirirmM for 
sexcral liioiillis, hy llie IWiiled Slates ('oiisiil, l»iil was released, 
and linally sold l(» l'"rane«' when orcr Jij'li/ i/cais old. 'The ship 
"Jl'LIAN" was hiiill al iM.sler's Vanl" l.eroii> ISl*:.; ('apt. 
HeiijaiiiiM Smilh, eoiimiander. She was sohl lo New ^'ork hy 
iier New lledford owners in iSl'il*. The l<\)slers hnill, in IcS'if), 
the l)ri<jj " Dl A N A," lor lh(< lannehinu^ of whi<li vesstd hvelvo 
poniidM of (iilloNv w«'re lioiiii,lil lor $1 .1'O, lo iis»> on lluMvays ; and 



the l)n<jj 'DIANA," lor Ihe hinnehinu^ of whi<li vesstd hvelvo 
poniidM of (iilloNv w«'re lioiiii,lil lor $1 .1'O, lo iis»> on lluMvays ; and 
in May, IS^f), " I'ork, hiead, saiiee, ele. , lor Ihe lannehin^ of llu^ 
hrii; ' hiaiiii,' $l.2;»." Nalliani«d I'leis w (»rked on (he "Diana." 
'riu< lannehin^^s W(M'(^ iilleiided by all Ihe p»«oph^ iiroiind ; schools 
<"lo.sed, and hnsiness was o».|i(.|;illy siispeiidi'd. A spread was 
always <^i\('ii l»y Ihe Itiiiideis, wjiich was iisiially siihslani iai, 
willi pl(Mily of lemons, sii'j;ar, water, etc., (o wash it down, as 




Til 10 FIRST AMERICAN FLAO IN TIIK I'.I.ACK SKA. 237 

and sailed her for five years. WliiU; in coiiiiiKiiid of tlu; 
" Smyrna," Ae (xirried, in I80O, llie Anwrlcan Flag into Ilia 
Black >S'w. Tlds was the firxt lime the American Flag ever 
Jloatrd orcr iJiiK sea. lie was next conmiMndcr of tlie sliij) 
"Kenown," ))uilt at I)uxl)ury. In licr 1mi went to Jticiiniond, 
Va., and other Soutlicrn j)oils, after which slie was sohltoNevv 
York parties. Jlis next ship was the "Minerva." In her he 
made two trips to New Orleans, and one; (Voin Soiilli (';ir()lin;i 
to Liverpool and London. His fouiUi vessel was 1h(! staunch 
ship " Vandalia," of 4«S() tons. In this shij), wliich h(^ com- 
manded two years, he made four voyages across th(! Atlantic, 
from New Orleans to Liverpool, and to oth(!r [)orts in the; 
United States and elscnvhere. His fifth and last vessel was the 
ship "Mattakecsett," of .500 tons, also l)uilt at DuxlMiry. In 
her he made many voyages from IJoston to N(!W Orleans, I'ensa- 
cola, Havre, and otJier ports. It is ninny years since ('apt. 
Sprague retired from active life with a comi)(!tence for his de- 
clining years, and now, at tl)e great age of ninety-one, Ik; takes 
his daily walk to the Post Office;, and chats freely and eiitcir- 
tainingly with his neighbors, and strangers, ahout the days 
when to be master of a ship of live hundred tons was as great 
an honor as any am})itious man need seek. 

In 1820, the ship "LAGODA," 340 tons, was built l)y S.-th 
and Samuel Foster, and owncid by them and Thomas Otis of 
Scituate. Sold afterward to I'oston. In 1811, she was pur- 
chased by Jonathan Bournc! of New Bedford, who owned her 
forty-five years, during which time; she made twelve successful 
whaling voyages. She is now owned by William Lewis and 
others, and whaling in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, from N(;w 
Bedford, in her .s/;/'/y-;/onr//< yf^ar. She arrived in San V\:\n- 
cisco in August, 1889, from the Arctic, with a cargo of oil and 
bone, and returned to the Arctic soon after. Some of the men 
who worked or furnished material on Foster's Yard, from \X()1 
to 1827, were : EliiJithan Ousliing, bf)ring holes; Anson Pol)- 
bins, painter and varnisher, grandfiither of Jas. A. K. Fnder- 
wood of Rockland ; Warren Sylvester, Mr. Knights, Samuel 
Tilden, Jr., Joe Barell, Samuel Rogers, Joe and Jonathan Mer- 
ritt, William Nash, (l)anl. Merrit, for boring (148 holes, $3.24), 
'romLa])hani, Thomas Ruggles, Jr. ; Moses Pardons, })l;inl<er; 
Laban Southei-, Howlarid and Zac Rogers, Jonathan Oldham, 
Tom Rogers, spar-maker; Joe Clapp, A. Ewell, John and Ira 
Bryant, Warren Hatch, Christopher B. Jones, who used to 
make pumps and dead-eyes; Timothy Church, Samuel and 



238 ELIJAH BROOKS ENTERS THE FIRM OF FOSTER & CO. 

Israel Turner, Elisha Briggs, Martin Rogers, planker ; Elisha 
Tolniun, joiner: Simeon Keen, George and David Torrey, in 
1810 ; Asallogers, and others. In 1827, the l>rig "CAMILLA," 
233 tons, of Boston, was built by Seth and Sanuiel Foster. 
Also the In-ig "BOSTON," probably built by them in 1827, 
242 tons, for Thomas B. Wales & Co., lioston. The following 
tare some of the voyages made by the "Boston:" 1827. 
('harleston to Amsterdam. 1828. Matanzas to St. Petersburg; 
Charleston to Amsterdam. 1829. Matanzas to Antwerp. 1830. 
Havana to Marseilles. 1831. Matanzas to Hamburg. 1832. 
Savannah to Hamburg, and Havana to Hamburg. 1833. Sa- 
vannah to Hamburg, and Baltimore to Bremen, with logwood, 
lignum vitte, etc. 1834. Charleston to Rotterdam. 1835. 
Charleston to Amsterdam. Samuel & Walter Foster built, in 
1828, the brig "RUSSLVN," 222 tons, of Boston; and the 
next year, 1829, a vessel well known in Soituate, the brig 
"MARSHAL NEY," 192 tons, of Boston, named after Napci- 
leon's General, who was afterward shot. The "Marshal JSey" 
was rigged at the yard, taken to Boston, and Capt. Crowell of 
Chatham there took charge of her. George Foster was very 
anxious to go \n her, and tinally ])ersuaded the oai)tain to allow 
him. They took a cargo and sailed for the West Indies, but, 
when tive days out, struck on Handkerchief Shoals, and were 
nearly a total loss. George Foster came home from his long 
voyage after two weeks absence. The vessel was raised, taken 
to Boston, and repaired on the Marine Railway. The under- 
writers threw her on to the owners, and the captain lost all of 
his property. After Capt. Seth Foster died, Sanniel and Wal- 
ter took in ETijaJi Brooks as partner for a time. About 1830, 
the Fosters built the brig " MAGNOLIA," about 250 tons, and 
about the same time a shij} of about 300 tons, which broke 
<lown on the ways, and had to be dug out and got off on rollers. 
The hollow can be seen at the present day. They buUt, in 
1831, the brig, afterward the sch., "TOKEN," 141 tons, mixed 
wood, iron fastened ; sold to New York. Repaired in 1859. 
Owned in 1861 by Tracy and others, St. (Jcorge, Me., Capt. 
Tracy. Sanuiel Foster was the master cari)enter. 

In 1831, Turner Foster and Josepli CJapp formed a partner- 
ship, and built on that part of the yard known as the "Old 
Curtis Yard," jn'obably so named after some Curtis who may 
have owned the land.* Sumuel Foster occupied the yard 



• See Chittenden Yard. 



VESSELS BUILT BY FOSTER & CO. 23i) 

adjoininirat the sanie tiiiii;, and in 1832 built the briii: " CIIK'K- 
ASAAW" 171 tons, ot" lioston. Joshua Turner Foster, or Tur- 
ner Foster, as he is commonly called, was born in So. Scituate, 
January, 1810, where he remained until he was sixteen, when 
he went to Medford to learn the ship-carpenter's trade, enter- 
inir the yard of Spra<>:ue & James. Here he served his time, 
and at twenty-one, when he became free, returned to Scituate, 
and built four vessels in partnership with Joseph Clap}), under 
the firm name of Clapp & Foster. They were the brig 
"WATER-WITCH," 1()7 tons, Imilt in 1831, for B. C. Clark, 
Boston, of which Joseph Clap}) was master car})cnter ; in 1832, 
the l)ark "MADAGASCAR," of 242 tons, built for Curtis & 
Hall of Boston, Clap}) & P\)ster, master car})enters ; and in 
1833 the brig '" GANGES," 2M tons, owned by WdliamC. Fay 
and John H. Pierson, and lost on the S})anish Main, under 
Ca}it. Raymond, about 1848. The last vessel built by this firm 
was in 1833, the brig " ATTILA," 20(5 tons, of Boston, named 
after the famous Hun leader. Mr. Cla})}) then went into })art- 
nershi}) with Samuel Foster and brothers. 

Turner Foster, who had now reached his twenty-fifth year, 
returned to the S})rague & James Yard, in Medford, as fore- 
man. He mar. Ellen Sprague, dau. of a member of the firm, 
and they had five children and three now dead. 4. William T., 
who has two sons ; 5. Laura, who mar. Edwai'd H. Parker, 
and has one son. Befoi'e Mr. Foster l(;ft Scituate, the first 
time, he used to hel}) his father at the store, and often carried 
the " black-stra}) " (rum, sweetened with molasses,) down to 
the yards, but, during the seventy-eight years of his life, has 
never used tobacco, nor tasted s})irit save as a medicine. He 
used to l)lay the clarionet, and, together with Uncle Sam Rog- 
ers, went to singing school in P(!m))roke. At that time Mr. 
Rogers was courting a Miss Standish, and Mr. Foster was 
obliged to wait for him to go to her house and do his couiting, 
before they went home, as Mr. Rogers had the team, and it was 
a long walk. Mr. Foster has built in Medford, as successor to 
S})rague & James, on the same yard, sixty-four vessels, from 
1250 tons down, building the last one, the "Pilgrim," in 1872, 
which was also the last vessel built in Medford. He has held 
many positions of trust, being Ensign at nineteen, and Captain 
at twenty-four years of age, of the old Medford military com- 
})any, holding commissions signed by "old Gov. Honest John 
Davis " and Gov. Levi Lincoln. He has been on the School Com- 
mittee, and Selectman for eleven difi'erent years, Assessor four 



240 CLAPP GENEALOGY. 

years, and Representative to the Legislature in 1883 and 1884, 
the latter year being the oldest man in the House. He can 
now dance with as light a step as a boy of sixteen, and is as 
bright and clear in his mind as he ever was. 

An epita})h current in connection Avith this yard reads as 
follows • 

" Under this greensward pat, 
Lies the hulk of old *********. 
Shepherds rejoice, and do not weep. 
For he is dead who stole your sheep." 

The deceased was noted for putting other farmers' sheep into 
his own flock, and marking them with his private mark. We 
have no proof as to the identity of the writer, but the lines are 
not inconsistent with Mr. Foster's jovial disposition. 

Joseph Clapp was a direct descendant of Thomas Clapp, Avho 
was born in Dorchester, Eng., in 1597, and came to Dorches- 
ter, Mass., with the early settlers of that phice. His grandson, 
Thomas, born 1703, was one of the most distinguished men of 
his time. Thomas was President of Yale College from 1740 
until 1764, when he resigned and returned to Scituate, where 
he died the following year. He wrote many books, among 
them a valuable history of Yale College. A notice of the death 
of his brother Nathaniel's child appears in an old paper, as fol- 
lows : 

" We hear from Scituate, that on Monday Morning last (Thurs. Aug. 16. 
1770) a promising Youth, about li Years of Age, Son to Nathaniel Clap, 
Esq. of that Town, driving a Cart down a steep Hill, one of the Wheels 
taking the rising Ground overset the Cart, and killed the Lad instantly on 
the Spot." — The Mass. Gazette and Boston Weekly News-Letter. 

The new firm of Samuel Foster & Co. built, in 1833, the 
briij "BOSTON," 170 tons, of Gloucester, whaling off Califor- 
nia" in 1857. Also in 1833, the brig "BALTIMORE," 169 
tons, of Boston, afterward of New Bedford, a whaler; in 1834, 
the bark "NIAGARA," 232 tons, of Boston ; in 1835, the bark 
"SARATOGA," -I^i^) tons, of Boston. Also in 1835, the bark 
"NEPTUNE," 231 tons, of Boston. Joseph Clapp was the 
master carpenter of the "Niagara" and "Saratoga." The 
" Neptune " appears to be the last vessel biult l)y the Fosters, 
and, excepting those built by Litchfield & Burrill, was proba- 
bly the last vessel built at these yards. " Hay ward's New Eng- 
land Gazetteer," 1839, says, under "Scituate," that the 



LITCHFIELD & BURRILL. 241 

"North River is noted for the fine ships built on its banks, the 
value of vessels annually built being $40,000. These vessels are of 
superior mechanism, and are built of native white oak, remarkable 
for its durability. During the year ending April i , 1S37, Scituate 
had twenty-two vessels engaged in fishing, and took 6500 barrels of 
mackerel, valued at $46,000." 

The Wanton Yard, after the Fosters left it, was next occu- 
pied by Cunwiings Litchfield and James S. Burrill. James S. 
Burrill was born in Weymouth, Mass., and was son of Isaac, 
who was also born ni Weymouth. He married Martha Stock- 
bridge of Scituate, Mass., and finally moved to Medford, Mass. 
Cunimings Litchfield was son of Bernard and grandson of Eli- 
jah Litchfield. He was born in 1815, and has been a mo^t 
active man. His education has been acquired chiefly by expe- 
rience and observation He left school at the age of ten, and 
went fishing with his father in the sch. "Hope." His first trip 
was made in three weeks, when they returned to port with a 
full fare, two barrels being credited to young Litchfield. His 
next adventure was in the sch. "Beaver," cod-fishing. In 
making the run home from the Bay of Fundy, in a storm, they 
endeavored to make a port near Cape Ann, but were run into 
and sunk. The crew was saved by the colliding vessel, and 
safely landed. The next day Mr. Litchfield took the packet 
for Boston, and walked home, barefooted. Pie continued fish- 
ing, summers, until he was seventeen, and made occasional 
trips to Southern ports during the winter, in the coasting trade. 
He went to Medford and learned the ship-carpenter's trade of 
builder Jotham Stetson. He served three years or more with 
Mr. Stetson, and his first job afterward was at Grand Island, 
N. Y., where, with Mr. Delano, he helped build a steam])oat. 
He then returned to Massachusetts and worked in the Navy 
Yard three months, when he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., and 
helped repair the LTnited States ship " Ohio." We next hear of 
him in the British Dominions, just over our eastern boundary, 
where he helped build a ship of 1200 tons, all of white oak, 
being the first ship of that material built at that place. In 
1838, he commenced building vessels on his own account, on 
North Iviver. This year he built, in company with Mr. Burrill, 
the sch. "LITCHFIELD," 65 tons, one deck and two masts, of 
Boston. She had a billet-head, which was afterward substi- 
tuted by a figure-head. Capt. John White was at one time 
master of her. She was in the Curacoa fruiting trade, and was 
lost, in about five years, on the back side of Cape Cod. T!:o 



242 LITCHFIELD & BURRILL. 

crew were saved. Mr. Litchtiekl and his partner built at this 
yard, in 1839, the sch. "LYDIA KING," 22 tons, owned by 
Capt. Bernard and Cummings Litchfield and James S. Burrill, 
at Scituate. Mr. Litchfield afterward sold one-half of her to 
Oakes Lawrence. Later she was sold to Martha's Vineyard, 
and ran as a packet to Boston. She was at one time owned in 
Dartmouth, and was finally run into and sunk in Vineyard 
Sound. This firm also built, at this yard, a brig, in 1840 ; 
probably the "FRANKLIN," 172 tons, of Provincetown. The 
firm dissolved, and thus ended the ship-building on this yard, 
possibly for all time. Cummings Litchfield built near his pres- 
ent residence in So. Scituate in 1852, and later at Union Bridge.* 
In the meantime he worked at the different yards on the river, 
and also went to sea. He is now living in Norwell, where he 
carries on an extensive farm. 



* See Miscellaneous Scituate Yards. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



CHITTENDEN YARD. — 1690-1871. 



JOB RANDALL, EDWARD PROUTY, ISAAC PROUTY, ISAAC CHIT- 
TENDEN, NATHANIEL CHITTENDEN, OBADIAH MERRITT, NOAH 
MERRITT, SAMUEL SILVESTER, GEORGE TORREY, JAMES TOR- 
REY, ISAAC TORREY, GEORGE TORREY, JR., DAVID TORREY, 
JOSEPH NASH, ELISHA BARKER, LABAN SOUTHER, JOSEPH 
PRATT, CHARLES COLE, WALTER FOSTER, ELIJAH CUDWORTH, 
LABAN CUDWORTH, JOSEPH CUDWORTH, JOHN CUDWORTH, 
HENRY MERRITT, JOSEPH MERRITT. 



'T^HE Chittenden Yard was located next below the Wanton 
^ Yard, on the Norwell side of North River, on the first rise 
of land just above and near the mouth of the Second Herring 
Brook. In 1673, it was agreed that the land between the Sec- 
ond Herrino; Brook and Edward Wanton's land be reserved for 
the use of the ministry. It was sold in 1702-3. Until 1799, 
there was a Town Landing at this yard 

Job Randall, who built here about 1690, was probably the 
first shipwright to occupy this yard. He was son of William 
Randall, who came to Marshfield from Rhode Island in 1636, 
and later moved into So. Scituate where he lived a]>out twenty 
rods north of TilTs, or Dwelley's Creek, on the site of the late 
Elisha Foster's residence. Jol) Randall was b. in 1654. He mar. , 
and settled one-quarter of a mile south of Herring Brook Hill, 
where David Torrey lived later. He had children : 1. Mary, 
b. 1680. 2. Job, b. 16<S3, who settled on the Marshfield or 
Pembroke side of the river, at Job's Landing. 3. James, b. 
16<S5. 4. Nehemiah, b. 1688. 5. Lydia, b. 1690. 6. Sam- 
uel, b. 1694. This family has descendants in West Norwell, 



244 JOB KANDAIX THE TUOITTYS ISAAC nilTTKNDKN. 

^Tass., in Topsliniu and other towns in ^I:iiii(\ and in Ilarps- 
AV(>11 and l\Mnbroko. Isaac, brother of ,Iol), lived lo ho one 
hinuh-ed and two years okl. It will ho seen from (he iollo\vini»: 
records Ihat -loh Randall hnilt moslly for Sainnel Li'.lic and 
.Vndrcw rx'lcher of l'»oston, and for Sandwich partii^s. Many 
of An, hew Uelcher's vessels were }nivaleers used in the French 
war. 

The hrst record of vessels prohahly l)uil("at (his yard was in 
1(>04, hriii'fn "IIOPEWKLL," 40 tons ; owners, Capt. Samuel 
Prince of Sandwich, and dohn Devin of P»os(on. Also the 
same year, lii".' I. sloop " I>Ul>AirrPvS," i>") (^ns ; owners, An- 
drew Peleher, mcrchan(, dohn t'oUMuan, Boston; master, Koh- 
ert Starkey. KilM). Ship " llAXNAU,"' 70 tons, Capt. Thomas 
Lillie ; owner, Samuel Lillie of Boston. Also the same year, 
l(i5):», briii'Cn "INIAKV," 40 (ons, rai)(. Thomas Parker; owner, 
Samuel Lillie, Bos(on. 1700. Ship " MFdlKTABLE," 8(1 (ons, 
Capt. Jonathan LanduM'l ; owncM', Sanuicl Lillie, Bos(on. Also 
the same year, 1700, ship "TWO BKt) i ITLHS," (iOtons, (\ipt. 
John Welsh ; owners, Andrew IV'lcher, Sanmel Lillie of Bos- 
ton, merchants. 1701. Sloop "TRVAL," l'O (ons, of Sand- 
wich ; owners. Capt. Samuel Prince of Sandwich, dob Kandall 
of Scituatc, and Catcret Cillani of Saybrook. 1702. Ship 
" CONTENT, " iL'O tons, Capt. Iluiih Shaimon ; owner, Sanuicl 
Lillie. 170.'>. Briji'fn " ADVENT URL," (50 tons, built at Scit- 
uatc, and la(t'ly called the " /»Vr»(/()/" ; owners, Andrew Belcher 
and Samuel Lillie of Boston, and David Bucklyn of Boston. 

,b>b Randall was succeeded at this yard by citluM' Kihrard or 
li^aac I*rouf>/, or perhaps by both. Tlu\v were brothers, and 
were sons of Richard, who came to Sci(na(e in HuO, and each 
has descendants in Hanover, Spencer, and Scituate, INlass. No 
records of the vessels buiU by (he Prou(ys seem to be in ex- 
istence. 

Tlu^ Chittendens built here, as early as 1 70J\ (he shnip "SEA- 
FLOWEK," 1^0 tons, Nathaniel Tildinp:, Moses Simons, Joseph 
Tildino-, fstnic C/n'tfeiufen, and Sanmel Marshall of Boston, 
owners. They also built, as late as 1714, the sloop " SEA- 
FLOWER." 40 tons : owners, Thomas Afacomber, John Koi:- 
ers and Isdac C/n'((e)i(h'i) of Si'itnatc. and Sanmel D»\i:<:c(t of 
]Marshtield. The above are (lu* tuily vessels that have been 
posi(ively loca(cd as havinsi' been built at (his yard by the Chit- 
tendens, though they probably built a great many, and some 



CHITTENDENS. 245 

later than 1714. From the time of their ownership, prolxibly 
before 1709, until the present time, the spot has ever been 
known as the Chittenden Yard. ]\lembers of tlie Chittenden 
family are buried in the "Old P'irst Parish Cemetery," opposite 
No. 6 School-house, on the road to Greenbush. Isaac Chitten- 
den was son of Isaac, who was killed May 20, 1676, in defend- 
ing Scituate from the Indians during King Philip's War, and 
grandson of Isaac, one of the men of Kent, who came into 
Scituate with his father, Thomas, in 1633. Isaac w^as probably 
succeeded at the yard by his nephew JSfathaniel, b. 1724. ^-a- 
th&meV s BO\\ JSFathaniel, b. 1751, lived near the mouth of the 
Second Herring Brook, and probal)ly built at this yard then. 
He mar. Ruth Foster, afterwards wife of Dea. Elisha James. 

a member of this family, was at one 
'^^j^Bt^ CiCt'^^^wft^n tii^i^' pi'ior to 1700, a Selectman, and 

Surveyor of the town of Scituate. 
Descendants of the Chittendens moved to Charlestown, Prince- 
ton, and other towns in Massachusetts. The following, taken 
from the Boston News- Letter oi Dec. 10, 1761, is interesting, 
as it shows that lighters or packets were used during the early 
days for transporting the necessaries of life : 

" Saturday nitrht last we had here very violent gusts of wind, which we 
hear has blown down considerable fencing in the neighboring towns ; a 
Lighter going from this town to Hingham or Scituate was sunk near Spec- 
tacle Island ; the people with great difficulty got ashore alive." 

Shipwreck, however, was l)ut one of the dangers that men- 
aced our packets before the Revolution. Insults and assaults 
w^ere frequent, until "patience ceased to be a virtue," and, 
added to the persecutions and unjust taxation, hastened to bring 
on that glorious struggle that made us free, the last centennial 
of which — the inauguration of Washington — we celebrated on 
April 30 of this year (1889), and which day our Governor, 
through some unexplained reason, failed to appoint a day of 
thanksgiving. Massachusetts, heretofore far ahead in patriot- 
ism, was certainly unpatriotic this time. AVe have had a pros- 
perous century, and let us hope that every true American gave 
thanks on that day, for the blessings of God and our present 
prosperous condition. Scituate bore her share of the persecu- 
tion during the Revolution, one instance of which is recorded 
in the Boston Gazette and Oountry Journal of Sept. 25, 1769 : 

' ' On Friday last a Coaster, belonging to Scituate, w^as passing one of the 
ships of War in this harbour, when they dous'd their mainsail, but it not 



246 VESSELS BUILT BY THE MERRITTS AND SAM'L SILVESTER. 

being quite to the satisfaction of tlie commanding; officer of the ship, they 
sent their boat on board and upon the Officer's stepping upon the sloop's 
deck he immediately drew a cutlass with which he struck the master of the 
coaster on the cheek, which cut a gash near three inches long, after which 
he damned him for not showing more resj^ect to the King's ship and then 
cut the halliards of the main-sail and let the sail run down upon deck. We 
are told that the coaster apply'd to the Lieut. Gov. for his advice and assist- 
ance in procuring redress for this naval & insolent, but now-a-days, too 
common treatment, given some of his Majesty's American subjects. We do 
not yet learn how his Honor advised or concluded on this occasion " 

While ship-building was probably the largest business car- 
ried on in Scituate at this early date, it was by no means the 
only business. The Boston Evening Post, Jan. 11, 1768, 

says: 

" Last week a gentleman at Scituate sent up here (Boston) 15 samples of 
different kinds of cloths lately manufactured there, consisting of broad 
cloths, serges, tammys, shalloons, camblets, figur'd stufis &c : which are 
said by good judges to be superior in quality to any of tlie sort usually im- 
ported from abroad." 

The inhabitants of those days were obliged to look into the 
dictionary to find out the meaning of the word "lazy." The 
Merrilts built here before 1800. In 178n, the sch. "LiVELY," 
56 tons, was built at Scituate ; Obadiah and Noah Merritt of Scit- 
uate, owners. Obadiah, b. 1723, was a descendant of Henry ]\Ier- 
ritt, who was in Scituate in 1628. He has descendants living 
in Scituate and Norwell. His son Noah, b. 1759, has descend- 
ants at New Orleans, La. Early in the last century is recorded 
an accident happening at this yard : Bezaleel Palmer, b. 1706, 
was killed by a fall. He left a widow and children. He was 
son of Bezaleel, and grandson of John, Jr. Among the first 
vessels l:»uilt here after the Revolution Averc, in 1786, the sch. 
" BACHELOR," 44 tons ; owned by Noah and Abijah Otis and 
Gid. Chittenden of Scituate. 1789. Sch. "SALLY," 32 tons, 
of Scituate ; William Barker, owner, Scituate. 1793. Sch. 
"LYDIA," 50 tons, of Portsmouth. 1794. Ship " MER- 
CHANT," 179 tons, of Boston. 1795. Sch. "JANE," 65 
tons, of Provincetown. 1795. Sch. " MARY & NANCY," 41 
tons, of Scituate ; owned and probably built by Sani'l Silvester ; 
afterward sold to Boston. There used to be a Weymouth man who 
carted lumber to the ship-yard, and " Uncle " Sam Silvester, as he 
v/as called, was one of the workmen who was considered good at 
telling stories. One day, when the Weymouth man came, the 
carpenters got him to tell some stories, to see if he could get 
ahead of Uncle Sam. He tried to make out the Scituate peo- 



THE TORREYS AT THE CHITTENDEN YARD. 247 

pie quite ignorant compared with the people of Weymouth. 
He said that on his way over to Scituate, the Sunday before, to 
hear old Dr. Barnes preach, he called at a house on his way 
across lots to get a drink of water, and, finding the lady of the 
house washing, said, "Do you wash Sundays?" "No," she 
replied, " I do not intend to ; I did not know it was Sunday." 
Uncle Sam heard the story through, and then said, "I knew 
that woman ; she was a Weymouth woman." 

among other vessels, the sch. "Hero," 57 tons, in 1806, for 
Job Turner of Cohasset. Prominent among the old school- 
masters of his tmie was Elisha Sylvester, of the same family. 
He was a o-ood scholar and had a good school. When the Rev- 
olution commenced he did not like the idea of joining the army, 
so he became a Quaker, after which he was always called 
"Elisha Quaker." 

George Torrey was liuilding at this yard as early as 1794.* 
He was son of Caleb, a direct descendant of Lieut. James, who 
was in Scituate before 1640. George's son George succeeded 
his father. 

^ yn. « was representative to the 

r^/iLXr\nJOV^^4^ ^ General Court from Scituate 

^ 1749. There appears in The 

Massachusetts Sj)y of May 14, 1772, the following : 

«• Died, at Scituate, Capt. Caleb Torrey. He was formerly a representa- 
tive in the General Court for that town." 

George Torrey built, at the Chittenden Yard, in 1794, the 
sch., afterwards brig, "BETSEY," 111 tons, of Boston. 
Owners, James Torrey of Boston, shipwright, Joseph and James 
Eogers and Samuel Truant of Marshfield, and George Torrey 
of Scituate. Benjamin Briggs, Jr., was captain of iier. He 
buih, in 1796, the sch. "^BETSEY," 95 tons. Owned by 
Samuel Truant, Sr., & Jr., Georo:e Torrey, Joseph and James 
Rogers, of Marshfield. In 1797^ he built the sch. "THANK- 
FUL," 129 tons, of Marshfield. Owners, Joseph and James 
Rogers and Amos Hatch of Marshfield, George and James 



• See Block-house Yard. 



248 TORREY GENEALOGY. 

Torrey of Scituate. This vessel is one of the chiimants to the 
French spoliation. He built in 1799 the sch. " LYDIA.," 81 
tons. Owned l)y James Little and Oliver and Coleman Jenkins 
of Scituate. The shipbuilders in the Torrey family were all 
descendants of Lieut. James Torrey, a clothier who was in 
Scituate prior to KUO (see Briggs Yard). Jornes son of Capt. 
Caleb was b. in 1 7/)5 and had sons : James, who went to Maine ; 
Rev. William, who removed to Canandaigua ; and Charles, who 
deceased early. Isaac, brother of James, was b. in 1740, 
d. in 1812, unmarried. George Torrey, who built many 
vessels for the Rolfes of Virginia and other large ship owners 
prior to 1800, some of which are given above, was also son of 
Capt. Caleb. He was b. in 1758, d. July 13, 1813. He had 
children: 1. George, Jr.; 2. David ; 3. Isaac, who had one 
dau., now residing in Maine ; 4. Otis ; 5. Sally, mar. twice, no 
children ; 6. Lucy, mar. twice, had two children ; 7. Betsey. 
George and David succeeded their father and built together on 
the river for some time, after which they dissolved partnership. 
George went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he built vessels for 
service on Lake Erie. David formed a co-partnership with 
A\'illiam James and built vessels at Quincy as early as 
1816, and AVm. James built there as late as 1822, and 

on North River later. Georrie Torrey/, Jr., mar. 

Day; they had children: 1. John D., who kept the 
South Shore House, Scituate, for many years. He mar. a 
widow Vinal ; 2. Thankful O. ; 3. George O., who mar. 
and has children. He was born Aug. 27, 1820, and until he 
was twelve years old worked on the farm the year round with 
the exception of three months w^inter schooling. At twelve he 
went to sea in the ship ''Henry Took," to the East Indies. 
Vernon H. Brown the present great merchant of Kew York 
after whom the author of this book was named, was supercargo. 
He next went in the ship " Seaman," to New Orleans where she 
was sold, and he shipped in the "Concordia" of 700 tons. He 
went to Liverpool and then came home. At eighteen he 
entered one of the ship-yards of North River and learned the 
trade of ship-carpenter, which trade he followed for many years. 
Mr. Torrey has always been noted for his genial hearty laugh, 
and for his ability to excite something similar in others l)y his 
many jokes and stories. He is invariably in good spirits and a 
valuable man in a sick room. 4. Elizal^eth ; 5. Henry ; 6*. 
Otis ; 7. Josiah ; 8. Frances ; 9. Al)igail ; 10. Albert, mar. 
dau. of Ira Barker and has several children. 11. Lucy 



TORREY GENEALOGY JOSEPH NASH. 249 

mar. Tower. Five of these are now living. David 

Torrey, bro. of George, Jr., mar. Vesta Howard, of West 
Bridgewater. He d. Oct. 10, 1877, aged 90 years, 7 months. 
They hud children: 1. Mary Otis, who mar. Walter Bobbins, 
no children. 2. George Howard mar. Harriett Gushing and 
has three children : Howard Gushing, George Everett and 
Florence. 3. David, Jr., mar. Eveline Bowker ; he d. in 1884. 
They had two children : Emma Howard, who mar. Edgar 
Bates, and Edwin Bowker. 4. Vesta H., who mar. 1st, Albion 
Turner, by whom she had children, who d. young ; 2nd, Job 
A. Turner, by whom she had two children : Carrie, who mar. 
George F. Blake, Jr., of Worcester, and Albion Bryant, now 
of Boston, who mar. Alice Rawson of Newton. 5. Charles. 
now of Boston, who mar. Adelaide J. Bowen. They have three 
children : Charles Everett, who mar. Lucy K. Paine of Cali- 
fornia, Edith A., who mar. Fred Allen, and Harry B., who is 
unmarried. 6. Everett, now of Boston, mar. 1st, Eliza D. 
Webb, who d. in 1884, 2nd, Julia Stetson of Lexington, no 
children. 7. Franklin, who has resided in Italy since 1851 ; 
mar. Sarah Lincoln Spinney, of Boston. They have two chil- 
dren : Sarah Vesta Hernienia, who mar. Edward J. Berwind, 
of New York ; and Charles Franklin, who mar. ]\largaret Rolfe, 
of London, a descendant of the Rolfes of Virginia. They now 
reside in London. jNIargaret Rolfe christened the steamship 
*' Missouri," when launched, the same vessel which lately rescued 
700 persons from the "Danmark," in mid-ocean. The tirm of 
Charles Franklin Torrey, Williams & Field built the " jMissouri," 
which is running in their steamship line. 8. Willard, now a 
special sheriff for Plymouth county residing in Norwell, mar. 
Martha R. ]\Ierritt. They have three children : Frank H., (who 
mar. Grace E. Gassett, of Boston, and now resides in Melrose, 
Mass.,) ; Walter Robbins, (who mar. Nellie T. Fogg of Nor- 
well) ; and Martha Willard. 

In 1800 the sloop "PACKET," 37 tons, was built and owned 
in Scituate, by James Little, Lemuel & AVilliam Vinal, Jr. 
Joseph JV^ash was her master builder at Scituate. This vessel 
was undoubtedly Imilt at this yard and Joseph Nash probaljly 
belonged to the large family of that name who liAcd on " No 
Pork Hill," in Norwell. This may have been the following 
Joseph Nash : Joseph Nash, son of Joseph and Del^orah Nash, 
was b. Feb. 24, 1739; he d., Nov. 1818. This was probably 
the same Joseph Nash who mar., Feb. 7, 1799, Lucy Mayhew, 



250 ELISHA BARKER GEORGE TORREY. 

of Scituate. They had children: William, b. Oct. 30, 1799; 
Joseph Parker, h. Dec. 18, 1800; Benjamin, May 25, 1803; 
Lemuel, I). July 1. 1806 ; Thomas, b. Sept. 13, 1808 ; Lucy 
Ann, b. Feb. 5, 1811. 

In 1801 was built the sch. "ROVER," 89 tons, by George 
Torrey, master Iniilder ; owners, William and Lemuel Vinal, 
James Collier, Ira Bryant, and Cushing Otis, of Scituate, and 
the same year, 1801, George Torrey built the sch. " ALMIRA," 
8(5 tons, owned by James Little, Oliver and Elijah Jenkins of 
Scituate, and in 1802, the sch. "JAMES BAYARD," 85 tons, 
of Boston, owned by Pel eg Jenkins, Cushing Otis, and Isaac 
Torrey, of Scituate. 

There was also built in 1802, the sch. "SALLY," 95 tons, 
at Scituate, by Elisha Barkev, master builder ; owned by Cor- 
nelius Church, Samuel Donnel, Stephen Stockbridge, Silas 
Morton, Elisha Barker, Elisha Curtis, Horatio Cushing, and 
Reuben Curtis of Hanover. It is doubtful if the " Sally " was 
liuilt at this yard, but it is more than probable, as she was built 
"up river." 

In 1803, the brig "LIGHT HORSE," 162 tons, of Boston, 
was built here by George Torrey, master carpenter; owners, 
William Vinal, Jr., Cushing Otis, Nehemiah Manson, James 
Torrey, and others, Scituate. This vessel was afterward cast 
away and lost. Also in 1803, Geo. Torrey built the sch. " SO- 
PHROXIA," 83 tons ; James Little, of Scituate, owner. In 
1.S04, the brig "INDEPENDENCE," 160 tons, of Boston, was 
built by George Torrey ; owners, AVilliam Vinal, Jr., Oliver 
Jenkins, Elisha Tolman, Cushing Otis, and George Torrey of 
Scituate, Amos Hatch and Joseph Rogers of Marshfield. In 
1805, he built the ship "AVILLIAM TELL," 258 tons, of Bos- 
ton ; owned by ^^'illiam Vinal, Quincy ; Joseph Rogers, Marsh- 
field ; Cushing Otis, Oliver and Elijah Jenkins, James Torrey, 
and Georoe Torrey, all of Scituate. George Torrey also built 
in this yard, in 1806, the sch. "ENTERPRISE," 119 tons, of 
Scituate ; owners, Samuel Eclls and Timothy Church, Hanover ; 
Elisha and Charles Tolman, Jr., Lemuel Haskins, Lemuel fJen- 
kins, Ezra Vinal, and George Torrey, of Scituate ; and in 
1807, the ship "REGULUS," 237 tons, of Boston; owners, 
Capt. Trouant and Nathaniel Clift of Marshfield ; Samuel Eells, 
Timothy Church, Hanover; John Ruggles, Jr., Lemuel Has- 
kins, Elisha Turner, Elisha Tolman, Samuel Foster, James, 




^^^^^4^z^a^y^^ 





GUSHING OTIS. 251 

Geor2:e, Jr., and David Torrey of Scituate ; and Capt. 
Brooks, Jr. 

. /^/. wh'^ was interested in so* 

^^ jO jU^jY~~/~^ many of the vessels built on 

^'^'t^'^l^Zo^ ^/ <-^t!<^^ North liiver, was a promi- 

' ^r^ nent man of his day. He 

^ was son of Dr. James Otis 

of Scituate, a distinguished physician, and nephew of Dr. Isaac 

Otis, Jr., a distinguished })hysician of Bridgewater. He w^as a 

descendant of Dr." Isaac Otis, Sr., in the following line : Isaac 

Otis, M. D., mar. Deborah . He d. Nov. 11, 1777, aged 

78 ; she d. March 17, 1783, aged 84. They had six children : 
Isaac, M. D. , Deborah, William, Stephen, Hannah, James, M. D. 

Dr. James Otis mar. Lucy . He d. May 24, 1807, aged 

73 ; she d. June 24, 1810, aged 80. They had seven children : 
Lucy, James, Hannah, Gushing, M. D., Elizabeth, Abigail, 
and Thomas. Gushing Otis graduated from Harvard Gollege 
in 1789, and studied his profession under Dr. Hitchcock. In 
1792 he returned to his native town, and practiced in connec- 
tion with his father. He soon became distinguished for his 
skill in the healing art, and was repeatedly elected one of the 
counsellors of the Massachusetts Medical Society, of which he 
was a member to the time of his death. His forensic powers 
were of a high order, his enunciation clear, and his diction ele- 
gant. His oration in commemoration of American Independence, 
pronounced at Scituate, July 4, 1800, at the request of the in- 
habitants, though the production of his youth, gave evidence 
of a highly cultivated mind and rhetorical powers. In 1801 
he was elected a member of the Massachusetts Humane Society, 
John A^"arren, President. He was elected from his district ta 
the House of Kepresentatives in 1809 and 1812, and to the- 
Senate in 1822-23. On Nov. 11, 1830, he was chosen Presi- 
dent of the Franklin Association for Mutual Improvement, 
South Scituate, John Foster, Jr., Secretary. He was also a 
member of the Bunker Hill Monument Association. On July 
15, 1831, he presented the Second or South Society with a 
handsome clock, which was placed in front of the gallery of the 
church. He mar. Abigail, dau. of Judge Nathan Gushing. He 
d. Oct. 16, 1837, aged 08 ; she d. June 9, 1852, aged 77. 
Their only child, Abigail T. Otis, did much for this Society 
during her life, and at her death left goodly sums to the church 
and town. She died in So. Scituate, Oct. 15, 1884, aged 73» 



252 TORREY PRATT COLE. 

Ill relio:ious sentiment Dr. Otis was decidedly liberal. He was 
a distinguished member of Rev. Samuei J. May's church. 
While he stood aloof from those who would "call down tire 
from Heaven," he was far from ])eing a latitudinarian. He was 
content with the privilege of believing his faith to be right, 
without exhibiting any disposition to represent others as lieing 
in the wrong. \Miatever might have been his particular form 
of faith, he was a tirni believer in the great essential truths of 
natural and revealed religion. He adopted Christianity as a 
Divine system on the ground of its great external evidence, its 
perfect adaptation to human nature, and the truth and divine 
philanthropy which gives life and vigor to all its precepts. In 
social converse he was affable, comnuuiicative, and instructive. 
His refined taste, unaffected and habitual couitesy, vivacity of 
spirit, and discriminating mind rendered his society at all times 
endearing, and his death created a void in the community not 
easily filled. 

George Torrey & Sons built their last vessel at this yard in 
1812, the sch. "NEW SALLY," 56 tons: owned by Ensign 
Otis, Jr., Nehemiah Manson, Ephraim L. Young, George and 
David Torrey, Joseph Rogers, and Isaac Pierce of Scituate. 
Afterward sold to Waldol>oro. The Torreys about this time 
removed to the Block-House Yard. They were succeeded at 
the Ghittenden Yard by Laban Souther, who at first built alone, 
but later formed a jxirtnership with Elijah Cudworth, under the 
firm name of Souther & Cudworth. 

Joseph Pratt is said to have built at this yard at one time. 

Charles Cole, probably, also built at this yard, and he cer- 
tainly was interested in vessels built at the Harl)or. He built 
in Scituate, in 1811, the sch. "INDEPENDENCE," 87 tons, of 
Boston ; owned by Charles Cole, Elijah Curtis, Perez Pynchon 
of Scituate, and others. Years later, Charles Cole purchased 
a wreck on the Scituate coast, which he had repaired on North 
River. He lived in Beech Wood, below " No Pork " Hill, Nor- 
well, where his grandson, Charles Alfred Litchfield, now re- 
sides. His son Charles removed to Boston, and was at one 
time President of the ^Mechanics Bank, So. Boston. Charles 
Cole was son of James Cole, and was b. Sept. 1, 1759, and d. 
in 1840. He had three sons and five daughters. Mary, b. 
June 1, 1801, mother of C. A. Litchfield, is the only child now 
livino'. 



SOUTHER FOSTER CUDWORTH. 253 

Lahan SontJter came from Cohasset. He was uncle to Elijah 
Cudwortli, and lived just north of the gate on the road leading 
to the residence of Samuel C. Cudworth, Esq. He d. Dec. 19, 
1840, aged 78, and was buried in the First Parish Cemetery, 
Norwell. He probably left no descendants. He laid the keel 
of the "President," May 9, 181B, and she was launched Mai-ch 
29, 1817. In 1816, the sch. "PRESIDENT," 85 tons, of Bos- 
ton, was built at Scituate by Laban Souther, master carpenter. 
In 1818, the sch. "MARGARET," 89 tons, of Cohasset, was 
built at Scituate by Walter Foster* and Elijah Cudworth. In 
our researches into the business of ship-building on the North 
River, we find that no man stood higher, or has left a better 
record of honesty and industr}^, than Elijah Cudworth. He 
was a descendant of Gen. eTames Cudworth of Scituate, and son 
of Capt. Joseph Cudworth and Elizabeth Souther. Deane, in 
his "History of Scituate," gives an elaborate account of Gen. 
James Cudworth. In 1(375, when over seventy years of age, 
he was chosen "General and Commander-in-Chief of all the 
forces that are or may be sent forth against the enemy," which 
office he continued in until the end of King Philip's AVar. He 
died in London, Eng., of small-pox, in l(i82, where he was sent 
by the Colony as their agent. The Boston Cudworths were 
proljably a l)ranch of this family. The following item is taken 
from an old paper, and dated "Scituate, Dec. 4, 1764 : " 

" Ran away from his ISIaster, Benjamin Jacob, a Negro .Fellow named 
Prince, not very black, about 26 Years old, has an Impediment in his 
Speech : Had on when he went away, a brown homespun Coat, with brass 
Buttons, a Pair of new Shoes, a black Jacket linVl with yellow, brown 
Breeches, and old light blue Great Coat. Wlioever shall take \\\) said 
Negro, and bring him to his Master in Scituate or to Mr. Benjamin Cud- 
woi'th in Boston, .shall be well rewarded, and have all necessary charges 
paid. All Masters of Vessels and others are forbid concealing, harbouring 
or carrying oft' said Servant, as they will be prosecuted for so doing." — The 
Massachusetts Gazette & Boston News Letter. 

The partnership of Laban Souther and Elijah Cudworth was 
particularly pleasant, and was only terminated by the death of 
Mr. Souther in 1840. Mr. Cudworth then took his four sons 
into the firm. They were all practical siiipl)uilders, having 
previously learned their trade at this yard. The firm procured 
timber from the vicinity at first, the forests then yielding 
plentifully white and black oak and other timber suitable for 



* See Wanton Yard. 



■254 VESSELS BUILT BY SOUTHER & CUDWOIITH, 

shipbuilding. In after years it was procured from the forests 
of Bridge water and Abington, at a much greater cost, part of 
which was for transportation. Al)out 185,9, the business 
becoming less profitable the tirni dissolved. Mr. Cudwoilh, 
together with his eldest son, changed their occupation to that 
•of farming. The younger members of the firm continued the 
;aii: of shipbuilding at Briggs' Yard in So. Boston, and in many 
of the yards at East Boston and Medford. Elijah Cudworth, 
died Sept. 20, 1878, aged UO years, 20 days, and is buried in 
the First Parish Cemetery at Norwell. He left four sons : 1. 
Elijah, died a few years ago ; 2. Laban, who resides in Marsh- 
field ; 3. Joseph, mar. Sarah Jane, dau. of Joshua Stetson, no 
children; 4. John, mar. Mary Hersey ; they have one dau., 
Mary Frances, b. July 17, 1859, who mar. Edwin Beal of 
Norwell and has two children : Edwin and Charles. Elijah 
Cudwoith had four daughters, two of whom are now living. 
Joseph and John Cudworth live in Hanover near the Four 
•Corners. 

,^ ^ _ji/^ built at the Chittenden 

**^^*-*^'*'^'^ *y^iJ^Z^S^:?^ Yard, in 1818, the sch. 

^y. y r^ ^ "PHARAMOXD," 84 

^ ^t^^pw'yi^ ^^T^*.^?''^,!^^^^-?,,^^ tons, of Boston ; owners, 
/^ Elijah Curtis, Laban 

Souther, Samuel Tolman and William James, Scituate, and 
Eoniuel Brackett, Quincy. This vessel was begun April 10, 
1817, and launched March 19, 1818. It cost $175 to rig her, 
and $96 for duck for the sails. It appears that this vessel was 
fully rigged at the yard, was owned by a Scituate Company, 
and engaged in mackerel fishing for some years, making large 
returns to her owners. The last account of her w\as when she 
was sold to Boston merchants about 1821, and sailed on May 
:22nd of that year from there. In jNIr. Cudworth's settlement 
with the owners, he paid Samuel Tolman, Jr., $150, it being 
his part of the first payment. Mr. Cudworth received $(300. 
Mr. Souther $225, and he says, "Laban Souther and myself 
paid $124.50 each for the outfits of the sch. 'Pharamond,' and 
likewise received alike for the fish." They built here the next 
year, 1819, the sch. "SEVENTH SON," 87 tons, of Boston. 
The following copy of a charge from an old account book will 
show the rate of wages paid at this time. "Jan. 1, paid 
Thomas Puggles $20.50 for twenty and one half days ' worck 
don,' on the sch. ' Seventh Son.'" The "Seventh Son" was in 



FRUITFUL SYLVESTEIl SOUTHER & CUDWORTH. 255 

the Atlantic whaling from Provincetown under Capt. Cook in 
1822. Rum was freely charged from time to time to the differ- 
ent vessels in all the yards as will be seen by the following 
copies of some of the entries : " Eighty cents for one gallon of 

rum for the sch. . Sixty cents for one gallon of rum 

for the ' Sisters.' Paid for one gallon of rum for the ' Old Sch.,' 
48 cents," etc. The old sch. was probably the " Pharamond." 
This firm built the sch. "THREE SISTERS," in 1820. In 
Nov., 1820, Ensign Otis paid Elijah Cudworth $189 on account 
of the earnings of the sch. "Three Sisters." 

One of the characters of the time was Fruitful Sjjlvester. 
He was a negro born of a slave in the service of a Mr. Sylvester 
who lived on the Chittenden place during the Revolution. He 
died about fifty years ago and will be remembered only by the 
older people. He worked for the Fosters in 1820, and to show 
what wages were at that time he was paid for "Killing, cutting 
up and salting a cow, 'o'l cents." "For shearing six sheep, 36 
cents." " Cutting two cords of hard wood at Grey's Hill, $1.00," 
and other labor equally cheap. He was known the country 
round. 

In 1822 the firm built a vessel which they named after Mr. 
Souther. 1822, sch. "LABAN," 87 tons, of Boston. Owners, 
in Scituate, Samuel Tolman, Jr., Elijah Cudworth, and 
Laban Souther. The same year, Samuel Tolman, Jr., bought 
of Souther & Cudworth 1-16 of the hull of the sch. "Laban," 
for $135.93. William James had an interest in her and on her 
first fishing voyage received "$360 on account of the first fare 
of the sch. 'Laban.'" In 1823 Souther <fc Cudworth built the 
sch. "WILLIAM ;" also in 1823 the sch. "FREEDOM," 54 tons, 
of Boston. She was rebuilt in 1857, and owned in 1859 by 
Crocker of Marchias Port ; Capt. J. L. Crocker. Warren 
Briggs of Norwell, (a descendant of Walter of 1640,) now 80 
years old, worked in this yard al^out 1823, and has given me 
many interesting anecdotes. Souther & Cudworth built in 
1824 the brig "RICE PLANT," 122 tons, of Boston; owned 
in Boston, and by Elijah Cudworth and Laban Souther. Also 
the same year, 1824, the brig "MARION," 98 tons, of Boston ; 
owned in Boston, and by the builders, Laban Souther and 
Elijah Cudworth. Daniel Hall worked for S. Tolman, Jr., 
joinering on the "Marion." On Dec. 12, 1824, Ichabod 
Sylvester was paid 25 cents for going down river as one of the 
crew of the brig "Marion." In 1825 sch. " CLARINDA," 54 



256 VESSELS BUILT BY SOUTHER & CUDWORTH. 

tons, was luiilt in Scituate by Souther & Cud worth, and was 
owned in 1837 at Boston by Cyrus Wakefield. Among the 
many facts gleaned from the few old account books of the firm 
now in existence is the following : " On Jan. 5 , 182(5, Thompson & 
Wiley paid to the firm $500. 55, the last payment of fourteen from 
the earnings of this schooner, ( "Clarinda ") . Mr. Souther received 
$100 of this and Mr. Cudworth the l)alance." Sanmel Tolman, 
Jr., and eToseph C. worked joinering on thebriirs "Marion" and 
«Eice Plant," andsch. "Clarienda." In 1826 the ship "LEONI- 
DAS," 231 tons, of Boston, was built at Scituate by Souther & 
Cudworth; she was sunk off Charleston, S. C, in 1861. The 
"Leonidas" was sold to Captain Ellis, of Boston, for $6201.10 
" after deducting for carving for the head and stern." When 
the firm were building the " Leonidas," people used to ask Mr. 
Souther, who was somewhat of a stutterer, what the name of 
his vessel was going to be, to hear him say "Le-Le-Leonidas." 
Charles W. Sylvester, born in 1807, and his la-other, Harvey 
Sylvester born in 1810, both worked in 1827 for Souther & 
Cudworth, and later for the Fosters. In those days the men 
were in the ship-yard from sunrise to sunset. The Sylvester 
brothers now live together, nearly opposite the old Torrey 
place, south of "No Pork" Hill on the road to Hanover. The 
firm built during the next six years the following vessels : 
1827, the brig "MALAGA," 150 tons, of Duxbury ; 1828, the 
sch. " LOUISA," 60 tons, of Beverly ; 1829, the brig " HEBE," 
171 tons, of Boston; 1830, the sch. " MARIA,""64 tons, of 
Cohasset; 1831, the sch. "REBECCA," 62 tons, of Cohasset. 
She was owned and sailed in 1861, by Capt. Silver, of Well- 
fleet. In 1831 they built the bark ""^FLORA," 293 tons, of 
Boston; 1832, the sch. "AMERICA," 81 tons, of Boston; 
1833, the brig "JOSEPHINE," 232 tons, owned by Osborne 
Howes and others at Boston. The " Jose})hine" got ashore 
about half way between the mouth of North River and Huma- 
rock, and came near being wrecked. Luke Hall piloted her. 
She was got off safely. Souther & Cudworth built in 1833 the 
bark "NASHUA," 301 tons, of Boston. This was quite a 
krge vessel for this yard. In 1834 they built the sch. 
"LOUISA," 97 tons, for Capt. Cook, of Provincetown. The 
sch. "PRESIDENT WASHINGTON," 49 tons, built in Scit- 
uate in 1834, owned in Augusta, Me., in 1884, was probably 
built in this yard. In 1836 the sch. "TARQUIN," 101 tons, 
of Provincetown, was built at Scituate by Elijah Cudworth, 
master carpenter. She was built for a lumber carrier, and had a 




a o ^ 



o S 



(^ ►S 



ELIJAH CUDWORTH & SON HENRY MERRITT. 257 

low deck ; built of mixed wood, iron fastened ; owned in 1863 
by E. W. Wood, Surry, Me. ; used as a tishing schooner in 
1875, and owned by Charles Keith, Provincetown, Capt. 
Brown. Souther & Cudworth built in 1836 the sch. 
"EEBECCA," 63 tons, oak, iron fastened; owned in 1859 by 
Capt. Dill of Wellfleet. They also built about this time the 
sch. "ALMIRA," and the brig "SEA MOSS." They built in 
1839 the sch. " SUSAN BAKER," 99 tons, of Boston. There 
is some dispute whether the " Souther " was built here or at 
Taylor's Yard, but as Ltiban Souther died the year she was 
built, this " Souther" was probably built here and named for 
him, and the " Souther " built at Taylor's Yard, was doubtless 
another vessel. The Her. brig " SOUTHER " was 198 tons, 
oak, iron and copper fastened. "Built in Scituate in 1840 by 
Souther." Owned in 1859 by C. Sawyer, Gloucester, Capt. 
Tucker, and in 1865 she hailed from a British port. 

As was stated, after Laban Souther's death, Elijah Cudworth 
took his sons into the firm, but business was not very flourish- 
ing, on account of the scarcity of timber; he was the master 
carpenter of the firm. In 1846 they built the sch. "JOSHUA 
BATES," 65 tons, of Plymouth ; and in 1848, the sch. " CO- 
NANCHET," for Mr. Lawrence of Cohasset ; also, in 1852, 
the sch. " SURPRISE," 70 tons, of Plymouth. She was built 
for a fisherman, of oak and yellow pine, copper and iron fastened. 
Owned in 1865 by W. L. Phinney, Plymouth, Mass., Capt. 
Bearse, and in 1884 owned in Lubec, Me. The Cudworths 
may have built a few vessels between 1852 and 1860, but we 
have been unable to ascertain the names of any, and the yard 
was probably little used until the Merritts built here. 

Henry Merritt built here in 1851 , the sch. " SARAH JANE," 
67 tons. She was owned in 1876 by S. W. Lewis & Co., N. Y. 
In 1862, the sch. "FOREST BELL," built of oak, 44 tons, of 
South Scituate ; was owned and built by Joseph Mevritt, who 
is now living on " No Pork Hill," Norwell. Also in 1862, the 
sch. "FOREST OAK," iri tons, was built here by Joseph Mer- 
ritt ; Israel Merritt, Capt. ; and in 1864, a schooner of 80 tons, 
Capt. Abel Vinal ; Ephraim Vinal owned one-half of her. In 
1871 was built, at the Chittenden Yard, the last vessel built on 
JVorfh Bi'rer. This was the sch. " HELEN M. FOSTER," 90 
tons, l)uilt of oak by Joseph Merritt, draft 10 feet. She 
was iron and copper fastened, single bottom, and owned in 
1875 by E. Snow and others, South Scituate and Cohasset, 



t/ 



258 LAST VESSEL BUILT ON NORTH RIVER JOS. MERRITT. 

Capt. Foster. The launching of this vessel was quite an event, 
and those who witnessed it probably saw the last launchnig of 
a vessel of any size from the l)anks of North River. Below is 
o-iven an incomplete oencalogy of this branch of the jSIerritt 
family, as they have many descendants in Scituate. Consider 
Merritt (brother of Elisha) mar. Betsey Stetson, and had chil- 
dren • 1. Eliza, mar. John Corthell, Sr., and had children: 
John, Joseph, and Eliza. 2. Sarah, mar. AViUiam Gushing of 
Hino-ham, and has numerous children. 3. Joseph, the ship- 
builder, b. in South Scituate, Dec. 6, 1821 ; mar., 1st Debo- 
rah, dau. of Anson Hatch ; and 2nd, Helen il/., dau. of Daniel 
Foster, by whom he has had one son, Joseph F. 4. Willlvm, 
mar. Elizabeth, dau. of Benjamin Turner, and had children : 
Sarah Elizabeth, Walter, Louisa, Hannah (now dead), and 
Malley. 5. Joanna, mar. AVilliam O. Merritt of Scituate, 
and has numerous children. 6. Martha, d. aged 7 years. 

When about eighteen, Joseph went to Quincy, where he was 
apprenticed to his father, who was doing the iron work of ves- 
sels there. Later he went to Hanover, where he worked tor 
Warren Wriaht, and while in his employ did iron work on 
the "St. Paul" and other vessels, for Waterman & Barstow. 
From Hanover he went to South Boston, where he worked for 
E & H. O. Brigffs four years. He then returned to Scituate, 
and later built the "Forest Belle" on his own account. 

Before leaving the Chittenden Yard we will speak of two 
characters, both negroes, well known in the yards of "ye olden 
time " One was Uncle Peter Litchfield, who used to drive one 
ox, and when he wanted to train a new steer, he put it on ahead 
of the old ox. People used to ask him how he liked his new 
steer to hear him say, "Does pretty well for a flying jib. 
The other was iJe^eHaA Williams, ox'' Blach Bill, jis he was 
familiarly called. No man was so well known in Scituate as 
he, and no one was so welcome at all of the yards. Black BUI 
was supposed to be a mnaway slave. Where he canie from, 
how he came, or when, no one seems to remember. He lived 
in the woods, in little huts built by himself, at one time, over 
fifty years a<ro, in front of the Dana place. His hobby was 
the building of ships in the woods, some half dozen at a time ; 
buildincr a ifteet, he called it, with which he hoped to sail South 
:md fr^e the slaves. He never finished a single vessel, but 
would build them in a strange manner, as, for instance, putting 
the mast in the ground, and building around it, putting up 



"black bill." 259 

frames that resembled anything from a ship to a hen-coop. He 
built at one time in the woods near George Moore's Swamp, 
and also at Hobart's Landing. He would work on his vessels 
until without money or food, then he would leave them to work 
for the farmers when he had earned enough to buy a little Indian 
meal, when he Avould go back to his vessels. While at work 
for the farmers, he would eat as much as two or three men, but 
would live very sparingly when in the woods at work building. 
Black Bill built some of his vessels on the Collamore place. 
His last residence was on Scrabble Lane, east of Cummings 
Litchfield's, in South Scituate. From here he went to the 
Bridge water Almshouse, where he died. 



CHAPTER XV. 



BLOCK-HOUSE YARD.— 1701-1S34-48. 



WILLIAM JAMES, WILLIAM JAMES, JR., DANIEL HATCH, JAMES 
TORREY, JOTHAM TILDEN, LUTHER TILDEN, GEORGE TORREY, 
DAVID TORREY. 



'T'HIS yard was located in the bend of the river, on the Scit- 
^ uate side, just al)Ove the site of the old Block House. It 
was here that the Indian stood who shot Elisha James, ( ?) who 
was on the Marshfield side, standing where the marshland 
curves out into the river. The old house that stood near the 
site of the yard was used as a block-house or garrison during 
King Phillip's War. It was attacked in May, 1676, when the 
Indians made a raid into Scituate, but was not carried. John 
James, whose house (now occupied by John Henderson) was 
near the block-house, was mortally wounded, and died after 
lingering about six weeks. The Block-house Yard was first 
occupied early in 1700, by the Jameses and Tildens. 

Records state that the following named vessels were built in 
Scituate, though they offer no actual proof of the said vessels 
having been built at this yard. This list is here given as a 
matter of convenience : 1701. Bark "AMITY," 65 tons, Capt. 
Richard Lillie ; owner, Samuel Lillie. 1701. Sloop "MAY- 
FLOWER," 30 tons; owner, John Frizell. 1702. Brig't'n 
''JOHN & DOROTHY," 40 tons, Capt. William Smith ; owner, 
John Frizell, Boston. 1705. Sloop "ELIZABETH," 20 tons ; 
owners, Joseph Lewis of Hingham, and Eleazer Darbey of 
Boston. 1705. Brig't'n "ROS^E," 60 tons; owner, Samuel 
Lillie of Boston. 1706. Brig't'n "LUKE," 60 tons; owners, 
Samuel Lillie and John Horton of Boston. 1707. Sloop 



VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE IX EARLY TIMES. 261 

"HART," 40 tons; owners, Edward Martyn of Boston, mer- 
chant, and Thomas Pahiier and James Aynsworth of Barl^adoes, 
merchants. 1707. Brig't'n "ABIGAIL & ELIZABETH," 80 
tons ; owners, Richard Smith of London, merchant, and Capt. 
Michael Gill, mariner, and William Smith of Charlestown. 
1708. Ship "DOROTHY," 50 tons ; owner, John Frizell, Bos- 
ton. 1708. Sloop " SWAN," 20 tons; owners, Samuel Dog- 
gett> Jr., John Rogers, Samuel Tilden, and Joanna Butler of 
Marshiield. 1708. Sloop "RUTH," 30 tons; Timothy Cun- 
ninoham, of Boston, owner. 1709. Brig't'n "CHARLES," 40 
tons; John Frizell, of Boston, owner. 1709. Ship "LYON," 
70 tons ; AVilliam Blair and Andrew Belcher, of Boston, own- 
ers. 1710. Ship "DOROTHY," GO tons; John Frizell, of 
Boston, owner. 1710. Sloop "DOLPHIN," 30 tons; John 
Foster and Daniel Wair, of Boston, owners. 1710. Brig't'n 
" SUCCESS," 60 tons ; John Coleman, of Boston, owner. 

1711. Sloop "EAGLE," 30 tons; owners, John, Thomas, 
Macy, and Abio;ail Howes, and Silvanus Hussey of Nantucket. 

1712. Brig't'n "MARTHA," 50 tons ; owners, Nathaniel James 
and Peter Oliver, merchants, and Brattle Oliver of Boston. 

1712. Brig't'n "FRIENDSHIP," 60 tons; James Pitts, Gyles 
Dyer, Jr., merchants, and Edward Martyn, of Boston, owners. 

1713. Ship "THOMAS," 70 tons; owners, Jona. Belcher and 
Andrew Belcher of Boston. 1784. Sch. " SPHYNX," 43 tons, 
of Boston. 1784. Sch. "BECKEY," also w^ritten "^ecm," 
54 tons, of Boston ; owned by David Tilden of Boston, John 
Sutton of Cohasset, and Howard Pierce of Scituate. 1784. 
Sch. "POLLY," 69 tons, of Scituate ; owned by George Mor- 
ten, Joshua Otis, Nathaniel Wade, and Seth Turner of Scituate. 
1785. Sch. "SUKEY," 49 tons, of Provincetown. In 1810, 
this vessel was sold for the payment of seamen's wages. The 
first shipbuilder on this yard, whose records are preserved, was 
William James, son of Dea. John, Jr., who was son of Dea. 
John, who came into Scituate in 1668, probal^ly from Dedham, 
and purchased the Ephraim Kempton estate, near the Block- 
house. William was born 1746, and mar., in 1780, Mary, 
dau. of Capt. Benjamin Randall. They had children: 1. 
Lydia, (who mar. Capt. Bass of Quincy). 2. Betsey, (who 
mar. Rev. William Torrey). 3. William, Jr. 4. Hannah, 
(who mar., 1st, Briggs Alden of Duxbury ; 2d, Josiah Leavitt 
of N. Y.) 

William James, Jr., was born in So. Scituate, March 1, 
1789, and d. Jan. 14, 1854, aged 64 years, being buried in the 



262 JAMES GENEALOGY. 

First Parish Cemetery, Norwell. He succeeded his father at 
the shi})yard, and mar. Mar. 7, 1816, Welthea Alden, who 
was b. Aug. 13, 1792. They had children: 1. William 
Alden, b. March 7, 1818 ; d. June 13, 1819. 2. Mary Ran- 
dall, b. Jan. 12, 1820, mar. Sept. 26, 1843, Edward H. 
Dehmo, of New York, Naval Constructor; she died Sept. 10, 

1854. They had two children : William Edward, b. in Vir- 
ginia in Sept. 1853 ; d. the same month, and Edward Franklin, 
b. in Dorchester, Mass., Aug. 21^ 1854. 3 and 4. Ann 
Appleton and twin fiister, b. Jan. 2, 1822. She d. Mar. 
14, 18S7 ; her twin sister d. Jan. 3, 1822. 5. Henry Pack- 
ard, b. Aug. 4, 1823 ; d. July 26, 1825. 6. AVilliam 
Henry, b. Apr. 19, 1825. He w^ent to the Pensacola Navy 
Yard as clerk for Edward H. Delano, Naval Constructor, and 
there mar. Laura Ingraham, of that place, Dec, 1858. They 
had seven children : Harry Ingraham, b. in North Carolina, 
Minnie, Daisy, George^ Welthea Alden, Laura I. and AVilliam 
Henry ; of these George and Welthea Alden only are living. 

7. Albert, b. Feb. 7, 1827, mar, June, 1863, Helen Hopkins 
of New York. They had one son, Josiah Leavitt, b. in 1864. 

8. Welthea Alden, b. July 6, 1830, mar., Sept. 16, 1850, 
Benjamin Merritt, Jr., of AA^atertown, Mass. They had four 
children: Helen »Jaiiies, b. eTan. 9, 1852, (who mar., July 19, 
1876, Abraham Hun Berry of Boston). Louisa Phillips, b. 
March (5, 1857. Benjamin Frederick, b. March 14, 1865, and 
John x\lden, b, Aug. 23, 1875. 9. Frederick Augustus, 
b. Nov. 27, 1832, mar. Ellen Foster, of So. Scituate, INIay, 

1855. They had two children : Mary Delano, b. Oct. 7, 1<S56, 
and Ellen Foster, b. Nov. 14, 1857. Mary Delano d. Oct., 
1863, and Ellen Foster mar., March, 1886, James Gurney, Jr., 
of East Boston, and d. Aug., 1888. They had one child, 
Fred J., h. Oct., 1887 ; d. Aug., 1888. Frederick Augustus 
James d., Sept. 8, 1865, in the Union Army. ]0. Hannah 
Packard, b. Sept. 5, 1835, recentl^^ living in Newton. 

built, in 1795, the ship 
y ^^ ^v "MARY,"for Mr. Joseph 




Tilden, of Boston, and 
in his certificate he swore 
that she was " full built," 
that she had "2 decks and 3 masts," that her length was "90 
feet, 6 inches, her breadth, 27 feet, 1 inch, her dei)th, 13 feet, 
6 inches, and that she was of 286 tons burthen." She was 



DANIEL HATCH, SHirBUILUEIl. 263 

lost probably on the coast of North Carolina in 1829. William 
James built at this yard, in 1799, the ship "MARY ANN," 
242 tons of Boston, and in 1804, the sch. "MARY," 99 tons, 
of Boston. Owners, Charles Ellms, Cushing Otis, of Scituate, 
and others. 

Daniel liaich built in Scituate, and probably at this yard, in 
1802, the sch. "SAUCY JACK," 90 tons. Owners, William 
Vinal, Jr., John Tilden, David, Jr., and Cushing Otis of 
Scituate. 

William James became a partner of Jotham Tilden's Math 
whom he 1)uilt until too old for active business life. Ship- 
wrecks of vessels, l^elonging to Scituate and elsewhere were 
frequent during the early days. Scituate's Second Church 
records mention the death of 

" Capt. Seth Gardner, aged 32, Perkins Clapp, aged 31, Caleb 
Nichols, aged 28, Henry Nichols, aged 19, Reuben Nichols, aged 
17, James Brown, aged 27, Thomas Jenkins, aged 26, Prince 
(colored), aged iS, who were lost in the shipwreck of the ' Cyrus' 
at Cape Cod, about 1830 or earlier. One lad, George Fuller, aged 
16, escaped." 

The bodies of three, Gardner, Clapp and C. Nichols were 
subsequently found and buried at the Cape.* As they were all 
Scituate men it was very likely a Scituate vessel. From 
a newspaper of earlier date the following is taken : 

" We hear from Scituate, that last Monday (Men., Nov. 9, 1761) in a snow 
storm two sloops were drove ashore and lost, but the people's lives were 
saved : one of the sloops belongs to Salem, having her mainsail lower'd to 
two racks, a spring of wind like a whirlwind, run up the mainsail to the 
head of the mast, blew it from the racks into the water over the stern, 
which they dragged some hours, when another spring of wind blew it out 
of the sea on board again. They came out in company with live sail from 
the Eastward, two arrived safe, and one is yet missing, which, it's feared, 
is founder'd." — The Boston Gazette and Country Journal. 

The first American citizens who were engaged in whaling 
and sealing around Cape Horn, after the peace of 1783, were 
Nantucket men, and many vessels were built on North River 
for Nantucket firms. 

James Torrey built here in 1806 and earlier. He built in 
180(3 the sch. "PHCEBE," 117 tons, of Boston. Owners, 
James Torrey, Elijah Curtis, Thatcher Tilden, of Scituate, and 



* See Briggs Yard. 



264 TILDEN GENEALOGY. 

others. James Torrey b. 1755 ; was son of Capt. Caleb, 
and an uncle of George and David, who built at this yard later.* 
The Tildens built niuny vessels here between 1700 and 1800, 
ana in ISOI they built the ship "FLORA," 30(3 tons, of 
Boston; built by Jothani Tilden. The poor of Scituate and 
tlue surrounding" towns were carried each year to the town- 
houses of the several towns and sold out to service for the follow- 
ing year. In iScituate yearly could l)e seen the families packed 
in old farm and ox-carts, being carried to and from the sales. 
Charles Turner, father of Hon. Samuel Adams Turner, used to 
put a clause in each town warrant to see "If the town would 
support an Alms-house." Old David Torrey used to say, after 
reading the warrant, "See, there is Charles again, always want- 
ing to spend the town's money in erecting an Alms-house." 
But finally Charles carried the day, the a[)propriation for an 
Alms-house was voted for and it was erected. Uncle Ells was 
an odd character of the day ; he used to drink freely, and had 
a habit of lying about in dark places. Many persons, still 
living, well remember the start they may have experienced by 
c(4ning suddenly upon him in some dark corner. No descen- 
dants or relatives were left to mourn his loss. 

(ly-K-j^/l. /"T^-^^^ '^'^'^ ^^^^ brother Luther built 

^^^^^5j^„^ ^yj^^ji:^ here. They were sons of Dea. 

^/ ^--^^S ^'""uel, of Marshfield, who 

^ died May 29, 1834, aged 95. 

Jotham was b. Jan. 10, 1767 ; d. Dec. 18, 1843, and was buried 

in the "Two Mile" grave yard in Marshfield, He mar. Betsey 

Turner, for his first wife, Jan. 13, 1794 ; she died in 1817, and 

he mar., 2d, Betsey, sister of Elijah Brooks, in 1819. Jotham 

had children only l)y his first wife, viz. : 1. Jotham, b. Nov. 

10, 1794, mar. and d., leaving a widow, Mary, who afterward 

mar. Christopher Oakman, and children : 1. Frederick, never 

mar. 2. Allen Crocker, who mar. a dau. of Tilden Ames, and 

left one son. 3. William Henry, never mar. 2. George, 

b. Dec. 16, 1796 ; he mar. Mercy L. Clift.f 

3. Betsey, b. Oct. 2, 1799; mar. David Harding, and had 
children: 1. Sarah; mar. Dr. Oliphant of St. Louis. 2. 
Henry C. ; mar., 1st, a dau. of Rev. Calvin Lincoln ; and 2nd, 
. No children. 4. Maria, b. April 21, 1802; mar. 



* See, Chittenden Yard. 

t See Brooks & Tilden Yard, Marshfield, for account of this family. 



TILDEN GENEALOGY. 265 

Elijah Brooks.* 5. William Henry, b. Aug. 18, 1804 ; mar. 
Sarah Rainsford, dau. of Dea. Rainsford of Boston, and had 
children: 1. Augusta; mar. James Bates of Weymouth, and 
they have children there. 2. Josiah ; mar. Widow Snow. No 
children. 3. Charles; mar. a Connecticut girl; had no chil- 
dren. 4. Harriet F. ; mar. Edward F. Tilden of Chelsea, a 
ship-builder, son of Hatch Tilden; no children. 5. Louisa; 
never mar. 6. JNIercy, and one or two others, d. young. 6. 
Horatio Nelson, 1>. March 8, 1808 ; mar. Mercy Ford of 
Marshfield, and had children: 1. Mercy; mar. William F. 
Damon of Marshfield. Have several children. 2. Horatio 
A.; mar. Lucinda Damon, sister of William F. They have 
children : Carleton and Cora. 3. Helen ; mar. Dea. George 
Beal of Cohasset ; no children. 4. Lizzie, and one or two un- 
married. 

Luther Tilden, son of Samuel and brother of Jotham, was b. 
Jan. 2, 1777, and d. March 6, 1857, aged 80. On his grave- 
stone in the First Parish Cemetery at Norwell is represented 
a vessel, with the blocks under her, ready to be launched. He 
mar., 1st, Philenda Brooks, who d. March, 1837; and 2nd, 
Sarah S. Benson, July 4, 1841 ; she d. Jan. 13, 18(32. By his 
first wife he had seven children, viz. : 1. Philenda, b. March 
2, 1802. She mar. a Mr. Bond of Waltham, and had two or 
three children, of whom, Josephine, mar. a Mr. Bramen of 
Brooklyn, N. Y. One other, Sarah, mar. a Mr. Foster of 
Waltham. 2. Luther Albert, b. June 2, 1804: mar., and 
had two children : Julia and Charles Albert. (Julia mar. John 
Turner, and has three children ; Emma, who mar. Charles Til- 
den of So. Scituate ; Nellie, and John.) Charles Albert mar. 
a Miss Glover of W. Scituate. 3. Julia, b Dec. 30, 1806 ; 
mar. Capt. James Southworth of Scituate ; she d. 1880. They 
had five children : Florence (died when two days old) , Edward, 
Sarah (d. aged two years), Catharine (d. aged two years), and 
Caroline. Edward mar., 1st, Eliza Talbot of So. Scituate, and 
by her had one child, Fannie. His second wife was Hattie E. 
Hill of Sherborn, and they have had three children : Frank, 
Stacy, and Alice. Both boys are living. This family now re- 
side in Quincy, Mass. Caroline mar. Oliver Prouty of So. Scit- 
uate, and had seven children : Elmer, Edward, James, Alvord, 
Ella, Lottie, and Olive. She moved to New Jersey, and d. al)out 
1884. 4. Sarah, b. April 24, 1809 ; mar. William Turner of 



* See Brooks & Tilden Yard. 



266 TILDEN GENEALOGY. 

Scituate, and had four children, viz. : Humphrey, William 
Francis, Aral)ena, and Eudora. Humphrey died lately in the 
AVest, where he was the editor of a paper and a prominent man. 
AA'illiam Francis mar. a j\Iiss Stoddard of So. Scituate. They 
had no children. Arabella, mar. Coleman Ford of So. Scituate, 
and has several children. Eudora, mar. Charles T. Bailey of 
Scituate, and has several children. 5. William Phillips, b. 
May 9, 1811. He mar. Mary Foster of Scituate, and had sev- 
eral children, three of whom are now living, viz : Laura, 
AMlliam, and George. Laura mar. Dr. James S. Greene of 
Fitchburg, and now lives in Milton. They have one son, Jo- 
seph. William mar, Anna Haynes of INIilton, and has two chil- 
dren, Mary and Cora. George mar. Alice Butler, from the 
West. Their oldest child, Laura, died when about four years 
of age. They are now living in JVIilton, and have three chil- 
dren : Charlie, Alice, and Edith. William Phillips Tilden is 
the only surviving child of Luther. He is now living in Milton 
with a second wife. 6. Lucy Brooks, b. Aug. 19, 1818 ; mar. 
Dr. Jarvis Lewis of Waltham, and had one dau., Helen, now 
living in Waltham. 7. Caroline, b. Sept. 4, 1820. She was 
never mar., and d. at 30 years of age, or less. The author is 
indebted to the Rev. Wm. P. Tilden for the following enter- 
taining sketch concerning his early life, and his recollections of 
the Block-House Yard : 

'• The neat little one-story house in South Scituate where I was 
born, seventy-eight years a^^o, holds its age finely. It is located four 
or five miles from the sea, but near enough to hear the distant roar 
of the surf after a storm. The first I remember is being out in the 
end yard of the house, after a rain which had made lakes and seas of 
the hollow places, trying to sail the top of a small trunk, torn oflf 
and turned over, to look like a vessel in one of these inland seas. It 
"v^^as a perfectly natural thing for me. I was born to it, as a duck to 
the w^ater. Wasn't my father a ship-carpenter, and hadn't I heard 
the sea roar, and wasn't I going to build ships and go to sea ? It 
was the prophecy of coming events, though there was no pulpit in 
the vision, that I remember. My childhood was a happy one. Its 
memories are very sweet. We were not poor and not rich. Father 
had a good trade, and plenty of work ; and mother, besides being so 
precious, was so bright, so good, so buovant, such an adept at her 
needle, keeping all the children neat, and trim, and clean. What 
would the world be without the tender and watchfal care of loving 
mothers ! When I was seven or eight, mv father sold the little place 
where I was born, and built a larger house on the bank of North 
River, where for some years he and his brother carried on ship- 
building together. Sixty years ago, Scituate, Hingham, and Co- 



SKETCH OF THE BLOCK-HOUSE YARD BY W. P. TILDEN. 267 

hasset carried on the mackerel fishery to a very large extent, giving 
employment, during the summer season, to a large number of people 
in Plymouth County. A boy in our region who had never been 
mackerel fishing was lightly esteemed by his comrades. He was of 
little account. The summer I was thirteen, I got leave of father and 
mother to ship with a skipper they well knew. This was the begin- 
ning of my academical education. Many a boy goes to Exeter to 
prepare for Cambridge, with less pride and joy, I have no doubt, 
than I started oft' on my grand expedition, dressed in my fisherman's 
suit, every article of which, from my red flannel shirt to my pea- 
jacket and tarpaulin, was made by my precious mother's hands. For 
six or seven consecutive summers I continued in this academy, learn- 
ing some things, as is the case, I suppose, in other seminaries, which- 
had better be forgotten. The summer I was sixteen I was high 
line, as it was called, beating even the skipper ; packing one hun- 
dred and thirty-four barrels, I think it was, caught with my own 
hands. About this time I began to work with my fiither in the ship- 
yard, still fishing during the summer months while I was learning 
my trade. The daily recitations in this, my university course, needed 
no offset or balance of foot-ball, base ball, boat race, or other gym- 
nastics, we took all that the natural way. Our broad-axes and 
mauls were our dumb-bells ; our whip-saws and cross-cuts our vault- 
ing bars ; and deck beams, drawn up by the creaking stage on our 
shoulders, were our patent lifts. We worked from sun to sun in 
those dajs, often having a steaming forehood to bend after sunset, to 
use up the summer twilight. But you ' literary fellers,' whose 
education has been so sadly neglected in these directions, probably 
don't know what a forehood means ; and even if I sliould tell you it 
is a plank to be bent round the bows, set home, buckled to, reined 
in, wedged hard down, clamped to the timbers, butted and spiked 
readv for boring and tree-nailing, I doubt even then if I should give 
you a perfectly clear idea, so difticult it is for scholars trained in 
different schools to understand each other's terms. The Block-house 
Yard w^as not well adapted to building. The ground was mostly 
springy and wet ; the way to it was through a rocky pasture, with 
only a cart path, where deep ruts and frequent stones tried the heavy 
wheels, loaded with timber, and the necks of the patient oxen, which 
bore the swinging white oak trunks, planks, and knees. Then, when 
the timber was in the yard, there was not sufficient room for it. 
Beside this, when the vessel was launched, she had to run directly 
across the river into the mud on the other side. Souther & Cud- 
worth's Yard, a half mile up the river, and Foster's, above that, 
were far better yards ; more spacious, and with a finer chance for a 
glorious launch up or down a long reach. Still, there were many 
vessels built at this yard. But the Block-house, though not a No. i 
ship-yard, was a glorious place for us boys. Here came noisy and 
jubilant throngs from Front street. Back street, and all_ the lanes 
round about, in the dusk of a summer evening, for a glorious swim 



268 BLOCK-HOUSE SHIP-YARD. 

and a good time generally ; especially Saturday evenings, when the 
week's work was over. What schools of human porpoises would 
roll and tumble in the star-lit stream, preparatory for the clean Sun- 
day shirt. We used to run a long spring plank out over the end of 
the wharf, hold down the shore end with a boulder, and running 
out, give a leap and a dive, and the next you saw was a yellow spot 
under water, away out, nearly half across the river, with a motion 
like a frog ; then, breaking the water, he would shake the beady 
drops from his head, clear his nose for breathing freely, and continue 
across, resting on the opposite bank, or making a graceful curve and 
coming back for another dive. When the frogs began to peep, in 
the spring of the year, there was fine eeling near the banks up and 
down the river. We used a pole and line, and a sinker with a worm 
strung on a thread, called a ' fishwoi^m bob.' W^hat fun it was to 
pull them out upon the meadow grass, and bag them for breakfast ! 
We had superb skating in winter, and good fishing through the ice 
for eels, perch, and the beautiful striped bass. When about twenty- 
three, I married a noble woman whom I had known and loved from 
childhood, and we moved to Medford, whose ' Ship street,' now 
desolate, was alive with ship-building. It was not long after this 
when, working with my dear ship-carpenter, classmate, and ortho- 
dox friend, Rev. W. T. Briggs, we discussed, almost fiercely, the 
high themes of fore-knowledge, free-will, and fate, and I hammered 
away on the hard side of ' Calvinism.' One day, when I was about 
twenty-five, while at work in the ship-yard at Medford, I saw my 
portly pastor coming, looking through his glasses, first one side and 
then the other, as was his wont going up the broad aisle. I dropped 
my axe to welcome him, and soon found he had a gospel of hope for 
me. He had taken counsel, and came to tell me he thought I might 
— yes, I might — enter the ministry. That spot of ground is still 
sacred. I have been to it as to the Mecca of my first hope. All 
signs of the old ship-yard, to a stranger's eye, were gone ; but I knew 
the old land-marks, and found the spot where I dropped the broad 
axe to hear the glad tidings that opened to me a new life. I was 
glad to stand there and feel something of that hour come back to me 
through the vista of nearly half a century." 

Jotham Tilden built here, in 1815, the sch. "NEW SO- 
PHRONIA," 69 tons, of Scituate ; owned by dishing and En- 
sign Otis, Jr., Coleman Jenkins, Elisha Foster, Jr., and Luther 
Tilden of Scituate. William James, George and David Torrey, 
and Jotham and Luther Tilden were in com[)any from about 
this time until later than 1821. The largest vessel recorded as 
having been liuilt at the Block-house Yard was, in 1815, the 
ship "MALABAR," 355 torn. She had two decks, three 
masts; length, 102 feet; depth, 14 feet; breadth, 28 feet; 
owned in Boston. 



^ 2 



< 





VESSELS BUILT AT THE BLOCK-HOUSE YARD. 269 

and David Torrey were the 
master carpenters . The next 
year two vessels were built 
here, viz. : 1816, the sch. 
"MARY & POLLY," 77 
tons, of Chatham ; and the 
same year, 1816, sch. "ANN ROSINA," 123 tons, of Peters- 
burg, Va. ; owners, Ebenezer Pope, of Boston, and others. 
Jotham Tilden was the master carpenter of both these vessels. 
The "Ann Rosina," it is said, was named after either the cap- 
tain's or mate's daughter. The captain was Thomas Manches- 
ter, and the mate Mr. Cudworth. She was used as a Boston 
and Richmond packet. An old ship-carpenter now living, and 
in his ninety-first year, remembers having worked on the " Ann 
Rosina." Is it not wonderful that there is a man now living 
who can tell you that he worked on this vessel built in 1816? 
This remarkable man is Harvey Hall, and the following ac- 
count of an interview with him may be of interest. He was 
born June 30, 1799, in East Marshfield, where he has lived the 
greater part of his life. He married Charlotte Tilden, in 1824, 
and has quite a progeny . I found him in the orchard of his 
farm, near East Marshfield village, then in his ninetieth year, 
in the top of a Baldwin apple-tree, on a ladder, gathering ap- 
ples. I asked him what he was doing, and he replied, " Gath- 
ering Baldwins," as he did every year between the 10th and 
20th of October, for the old people used to say, in his day, 
that Baldwins should be gathered at that time of the year. 
Coming down, he invited me into his home, where he enter- 
tained me very pleasantly. He entered the ship-yard at the age 
of eighteen, under the instruction of Jotham Tilden, at the 
Block house Yard. The first vessel he worked on was the 
"Ann Rosina." From here he went to the Navy Yard at 
Charlestown, where he worked six months. He then went to 
work tree-nailing or "trunnelling" for Noah Brooks, at South 
Boston, working on the last shi}) he built there. Edwin and 
Harrison O. Briggs succeeded Mr. Brooks in ship-building at 
this yard, and Mr. Hall tree-nailed nearly all the vessels built, 
by them. He worked in the Magoun & Turner Yard, Charles- 
town Neck ; also in the following ship-yards in Medford : Fos- 
ter's, Taylor's, Waterman & E well's, Hayden & Cudwortli's, and 
James O. Curtis'. Later, he worked in Samuel Lapham's, Ja- 
rius Pratt's, and Hugh & Donald McKay's, East Boston ; at John 
Souther's, at Quincy ; and Nathan Josselyn's, at Quincy Point, 



270 VESSEL BUILT AT THE BLOCK-HOUSE YARD. 

where he worked on the " ]\Iount Wallaston." He also worked 
on many vessels built by Gushing Otis Briggs and his l^rother 
Henry, in Scituate. He renieml>ers Isaiah Wing's ship, as she 
lay at Doggett's Bank, during Embargo times, until nearly un- 
fit for sei'vice. He was also an eye-witness of the l)attle be- 
tween the " Chesapeake," Capt. Lawrence, and the English 
frigate "Shannon," oti' Cohasset. Here, he says, the action 
began in earnest, and, after a hard, short fight, the " Chesa- 
peake " was captured June 1, 1813. When ship-lniilding be- 
came dull, he retired to his present home in his native town, 
and is now enjoying the competence acquired by the laljors of 
his youthful days, and living Avith his widoAved daughter. 

In 1817 there was l)uilt, at the Block-house Yard, the sch. 
"WILLIAM," 49 tons; sold afterward to Freeport. Alsp in 
1817, the sch. "PHILEXDA," 72 tons, of Boston, named after 
Luther Tilden's daughter, "one of the prettiest girls in the 
neighborhood." It was also the name of Mr. Tilden's wife. 
The "Philenda" was owned by Elijah Turner, John Beal, Sam- 
uel Jenkins, Jr., Jesse Dunbar, Snell Wade, Gideon Vinal, 
Doane Damon, and Nathaniel Clapp, Scituate, Nathaniel Clift 
of Marshfield, and Smith T. Reed of Abington. In 1819, the 
sch. "BETSEY," 91 tons, of Provincetown, was built here, of 
which David Torrey was the master carpenter. There was also 
built here, in 1821, the sch. "VESTA," 91 tons, of Boston; 
afterward of Provincetown, and used whaling; David Torrey, 
master carpenter. This schooner was named after Vesta, the 
wife, or Vesta, the daughter, of David Torrey. The same 
year, 1821, the sch. "PRIMROSE," 71 tons, of Chatham, was 
built at this yard, of which Jotham and Luther Tilden were the 
master carpenters. In 1823 there was built here the brig 
"WILLIAM & HENRY," 185 tons, of Duxbury ; afterward 
sold to Philadelphia, and in 1855 she was whaling from Warren, 
R. I. James N. Sparrell, who worked on Foster's Yard, also 
worked on this vessel on the way down river and at the Ferry. 
In 1824 there was built at this yard the sch. "EMILY COOK," 
116 tons, of Boston. She was altered into a brig Sept. 13, 
1827. David Torrey was master carpenter of her. Daniel 
Hall worked joinering on the " Emily Cook " in 1824. At this 
yard were built the following vessels, viz. : In 1825, the brig 
"LE VANTE," 

^^ ^r—^ and William James, Jr., 

/^"y "/ O^ f^--»,'?--e-j</ builders, 219 tons, of Bos- 

,1 ^fi^^in^ ^i^*^ ^^ ton ; afterward of Lynn ; also 

owned at one time in Ware- 




VESSELS BUILT AT THE BLOCK-HOUSE YARD. 271 

ham, and, while in the whale fisheries, was condemned at Hon- 
olulu in 1847 ; and in 1826, the sch. " BALTIMOKE," 130 
tons, of Boston; William James, Jr., and David Torrey, build- 
ers and part owners. In 1827, the brig "MARIA THERESA," 
229 tons, of Boston ; William James, Jr., master carpenter; 
and in 1828, the sch. "COLUMBIA," 59 tons, of Boston ; Wil- 
liam James, Jr. , master carpenter. In 1829, the sch. "RIVAL," 
66 tons, built for mackerel fishing, commanded byCapt. Henry 
Clapp, and owned by John Beal, Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., 
Peleg and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Henry and Capt. Alfred Clapp 
of Scituate. Rev. William P. Tilden, when quite young, went 
fishing in this craft. She was lost while in the Southern coast- 
ing trade in winter. In 1831 was built here the sch. "RUBI- 
CON," 67 tons. David Torrey was the master carpenter. She 
was built of oak, iron and copper fastened, one break deck ; 
owned in 1859 by Capt. Thomas of Rockland, Me., and in 1861 
by A. Foss, Swan Island. In 1832, the sch. " AURELIA," of 
69 tons, was built here by David Torrey, and owned by John 
Beal, Peleg, John, and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Anthony Water- 
man, Harvey Curtis, and William Vinal, Scituate. Here was 
also built, in 1833, the brig "CASKET," 155 tons, of Boston, 
of which James & Torrey were the master carpenters ; and in 
1834, the brig "AMULET," 153 tons, of Boston ; James & 
Torrey, master carpenters. Abiel Turner, who worked in Mel- 
zar Turner's Yard in 1837, in William James' and David Tor- 
rey's in 1834, and for Elijah Cudworth in 1833, was son of 
Roland, and had sons, Henry A., George R., John D., and a 
daughter, Sarah W., (who mar. Charles Merritt.) Henry A. 
Turner* has had children : Flora J., Susie O., John H., Na- 
than S., George C, and ]\Iary R. It has been said that the 
sch. "ROWENA," 69 tons, built in Scituate, Mass., in 1834, 
was built at this yard, She was re-built in 1869, at Calais, Me. 
She was built of cak, iron and copper fastened, single bottom ; 
owned in 1872 by Cook & Co., Calais, Capt. A. Cook, com- 
manding ; and in 1884 by Damon & Waite, at Calais, Me. 
David Torrey is said to have built the brig "ABRAHAM" in 
1847-48 ; but whether at this yard we do not know. The ship 
"ENTERPRISE," owned in New Bedford at one time, was also 
built by the Torreys. Thus ended the good old ship-building 
days at this yard, which is one of the most beautiful and roman- 
tic parts of the tortuous North River. 



* See Rogers' Yards for H. A. Turner's wife's family. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



BROOKS & TILDEN AND WILLIAM TAYLOR YARDS. 

17S4-1S60. 



SCOLLAY BAKER, PRINCE HATCH, ELISHA FORD, JR., AARON 
SHERMAN, ELIJAH BROOKS, AVILLIAM H. TILDEN, GEORGE TIL- 
DEN, WILLIAM TAYLOR, ISRAEL CARVER. 

n^'HE Bivoks & Tilden Yard was located alwut forty rods 
-*■ al)ove Union Bridge on the Marshlield l)ank of North 
River, and on land formerly owned by Hatch Tilden, adjoining 
the highway which runs over the bridge. The William Taylor 
Yard was also located on the Marshfield side of North liiver a 
few rods below Little's Bridge on land then owned by Edwin 
P. Little and now by Enos M. Stodder, or Stoddard. There 
are no records to prove that ships were built at these yards 
before they were occupied by the above firms, but vessels were 
probably built at both yards in early times. The following are 
records of some of the vessels built in jNIarshfield between 1784 
and 1809, and as the other yards were occupied by other build- 
ers during these years, it is fair to presume that the following 
vessels were built at these yards, which probably remained 
unoccupied from about 1810 until the above firms built on them. 
In 1784 the sloop "ABIGAIL,"' 50 tons, of Marshfield, was 
built at Marshfield, and Jacol) Bearstow, of Marshfield, owned 
her. Also in 1784 the Brig't'n " AVILLIAM," 135 tons, of 
Boston, was built at Marshfield. Afterward foundered at sea ; 
and the same year, 1784, the sch. "POLLY," 52 tons, of 
Marshfield. Joseph, Mary, and Mercy Phillips, owners. 
Afterward sold to Barnstable. There was built in jNIarshfield, 
in 1 786, the sloop " SALLY," 44 tons, of ]\Iarshfield. Benja- 
min Hatch, of Marshfield, and Charles Hatch of Pembroke, 
owners. Afterward sold to Boston ; and the same year the 



BAKER HATCH FORD SHERMAN. 273 

sloop " JUNO," 90 tons, of Marshfield. Elisha Ford and Jona- 
than Ford, of Marshtield, owners. In 1792 there was built in 
Marshfiekl the brig "DEBBY," 107 tons, of Boston, and the next 
year two vessels, 1793, the sch. , afterward brio:'t'n, " HELP^N," 
100 tons, of Boston, and 1793, sloop "NORTH RIVER," 27 
tons, of which SnoAV Stetson was deputy surveyor. Owned by 
Charles and Benjamin Hatch, Jr., Marshtield, and Seth Hatch, 
Pembroke. 



/p y comn 



/ 



commenced the building 
a square sterned 
schooner at Marshtield, 
in April, 1800, launched 
her m October, and Dec. 
27, of the same year, she was lying at Lyman's wharf, so called, 
in Boston. This was the schooner " POLLY," 114 tons, of 
Duxbury. 

^,,>„^ built here in 1801 , the sch. 

/-^* *t2S^>^X "THREE FRIENDS," 

'^^ K£^tCC^ CTO^ll^^^^'^ 74 tons, of Barnstable. 

EUsha Ford, Jr., built in Marshtield, the next >ear, 1802, 
the brig " ELIZA," 165 tons, of Marshtield. Elisha Ford, Sr., 
and Jr., of Marshtield, owners. 

Aaron Sherman built in Marshtield, in 1809, the sloop 
"POLLY," 35 tons, owned by Benjamin Rogers and Ebenezer 
Sherman, Marshfiekl. She was afterward sold to Boston. 
Aaron Sherman lived near "Old Skunk Meeting House," 
Marshfiekl. While vessels were building on the beautiful river 
shore of Marshfiekl, other vessels were being destroyed on her 
rocky coast, driven before the easterly gales, and many are the 
sailors who have found their graves in the sands of this town. 
T/te Boston J^ews Letter records the following, dated Marsh- 
field, Nov. 28, 1712 : 

"On Tuesday the 2oth current, 1712, six men going off the Gurnet 
Beach in a whale boat at Duxbury by reason of boisterousness of the sea 
oversetting the boat they were all drowned, viz. : William Sprague, Eben- 
ezer Bonny, Thomas Baker, of Duxbury, Thomas Wright, Job Cole and 
Andrew Seaward, of Marshfiekl." 

The Boston Evening Post speaks of two great storms. The 
first under date of June 11, 1759, viz. : 

" We hear from Marshfiekl that Capt. Inglish in a schooner from Xo . 
Carolina was drove on shore there, the men's lives and some part of the 



274 EARLY SHIPWRECKS ON THE MARSHFIELD COAST. 

cargo saved but the vessel lost and that another schooner was cast away, 
not far from the above, which was stove to pieces and the people all 
drowned, but who she was, or where from, is not yet known." 

The second under d:ite of Sept. 11, 17G9, reads as follows : 

" Last Friday noon came on a very violent N. E. storm, attended with 
rain which lasted till next morning and it is said several vessels are drove 
ashore at different parts in our Bay, but as yet we have no particulars, 
only a sip. Capt. Atwood from the Eastward on Nahant Beach, a vessel on 
Baker's Island ; Capt. Stutson* in a sip. from the West Indies, at Cohasset 

and a sch. at INIarshfield." 

From The Boston Hews Letter^ dated Dec. 25, 1760, is taken 
the following : 

" Last week some men landed in a boat at Marshfield, they belonged to 
a sloop laden with lumber from the Eastward, which in a hard gale of wind 
lost every sail and the men not being able to manage her, they took to 
their boat and left her." 

The Massachusetts Spy of Feb. 1, 1771, contains an account 
of a wreck here as follows : 

" Capt. Cooper bound to Bermuda was cast away in the night of the 
22nd. ult. at Marshfield and the vessel entirely lost, but the men saved. He 
sailed from hence the morning before." 

We will leave the account of shipwrecks to record the follow- 
ing remarkal)le paragraph, which appeared in TJte Boston 
Gazette and Countrij Journal of Feb. 5, 1774 : 

*' We hear from Marshfield that the puissant A W Esq. lately 

went into a neighboi''s house and being seated, though very uneasy, he vvas 
inquired of what made him so, when he instantly arose and drew forth a 
.sword (being formerly a valiant soldier) declaring he would make day- 
light shine through 'em but what he would carry iiis point, giving as a 
reason that he was afraid of his life without being arm'd, tho' never 
assaulted. Being tluis accout'red one day on going to his barn, his cattle 
being affrighted and taking him to be a stranger, surrounded him ami we 
hear 'twas with difficulty that he escaped with his life and the loss of his 
sword." 

This was during the Revolutionary period and in no town 
in Massachusetts was there probably more excitement over the 
•stirring events of these times than in Marshfield. Undoubtedly 
the feeling would not have been so strong if there had not 
been in their midst three noted Tories or Loyalists, led by 
Nathaniel Ray Thomas. The first mention we find of him in 
the papers was in the Boston J^eivs Letter, of Dec. 4, 1761, ( ?) 
the foUowino' : 



See account of the Stutsons, Wanton Yard> 



NATHANIEL RAY THOMAS. 275 

" Wednesday, the 13th day of Januarj-, 17G2, the Gov. signed the fol- 
lowing act. An act for exchanging meadow and meadowish ground 
belonging to the First Precinct in Marshfield in the County of Plymouth 
with Nathaniel Ray Thomas of said Marshfield, gentleman, for salt- 
meadow." 

Nathaniel Ray Thomas was the sole surviving child of John 
and Mary Thomas, John Thomas mar. Mary, dau. of Simon 
and Judith (Manwaring) Ray, of New London, Conn., 
1124:. They had eight children b. between 1724 and 1737. 
John Thomas and his wife both died in 1737, leaving but 
one child, the noted Loyalist of Marshfield. They were 
not related to the Thomas family of Marshfield, descendants 
of John and Sarah Pitney Thomas. William, the common 
ancestor of the Loyalist's family, came over in the "Mary 
and Anne" in 1(536. Nathaniel Ray Thomas was b. in Marsh- 
field in 1731, and d. in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Sept. 19, 1787, 
he having gone there at the time of the evacuation of Boston 
in 1776. His wife and all his children, except John, followed 
after the war. She died there in 1810, aged 78. The home 
of Nathaniel Ray Thomas, of over 1500 acres, became the 
home of Daniel Welistcr in Marshfield, he buying it in 1832 
of John, son of Nathaniel Ray Thomas. Walton Hall now 
owns and occupies the farm. Near his house, which is on the 
site of the Daniel Wel)ster house, is a large tree to which 
many of Capt. Balfour's soldiers were tied and flogged for 
misdemeanor. In the following extracts taken from the papers 
of the times there will l)e seen many references to the Loyalist, 
and what a deal of trouble he occasioned in Marshfield. He 
evidently caused the town to pass some Resolves which it did 
not voice and which it afterward virtually rescinded, as will be 
seen by the following paragraphs under different dates. Bos- 
ton Gazette and Country Journal. Extract from a letter from 
Duxbury, Feb. 5, 1774: 

" I imagine you have by this time heard of the very remarkable Resolves 
of the town of Marshfield respecting the destruction of teas, &c • which 
was effected principally by the insinuating act of a certain man, who hav- 
ing lately rendered himself odious to the Province by his conduct in a pub- 
lic station, is endeavoring to wipe off the infamy on the people of that 
town. His insinuations are (as I am informed by people of veracity) that 
the tea must be paid for; that any town remonstrating against the destruc- 
tion of it, will eff"ectually secure them against paying any part of the 
expenses and if it is paid for that his particular shai-e will be £40 who 
commonly pays scarce £o per annum of the Province tax. However the 
sentiments of the Old Colony are not to be collected from those of Marsh- 
field." 



276 MAKSHFIELD DURING THE REVOLUTION. 

Two days later appeared, in the same paper, the following : 

" We are informed that the Resolves of the town of Marshfield were 
carried by a majority of only one vote, and we soon expect a more intelli- 
gible account of the meeting than has yet been given in a public paper." 

In the Massachusetts 8py, of Feb. 23, 1774, appears : 

" A protest signed by a large number of the prominent inhabitants of 
the town of jNIarshfield against the proceedings of said town on the 81st of 
January last," as follows : " We the subscribers think ourselves obliged in 
faithfulness to the community, ourselves and posterity, on every proper 
occasion to bear our public testimony against every measure, calculated to 
destroy that harmony and unanimity which subsists through the colonies 
and so eventually to the destruction of those liberties wherewith the Author 
of Nature and our hapi)y constitution has made us free. Were they not 
already notoiious, it would give us uneasiness to mention the Resolves 
which were voted in this town the 31st of January last. To the first of 
these Resolves we do not object; but do heartily join in recognizing our 
loyalty and subjection to the King of Groat Britain and our readiness to be 
ever subject to the laws of our legislature. In their second Resolve, they 
say that the 'measures and pi'oceedings in the town of Boston in the 
detention and destruction of the teas, belonging to the East India Com- 
pany, are illegal, unjust and of a dangerous tendency,' against which we 
take the liberty to protest. We have long groaned under the weight of 
an American Revenue Act and when by the virtue of the people in not 
purchasing any goods loaded with a duty, the malignity of the act was in 
some measure evaded, a scheme was devised and prosecuted by the min- 
istry, to enforce said act by permitting the East India Company to force 
their infectious teas upon us, whether we would or not. At this, not only 
the inhabitants of Boston, but of the whole province were very much and 
very justly alarmed and while they were prosecuting every method that 
human wisdom would devise that the tea should be sent back undamaged, 
it was destroyed, but whether by the people of that town, or any other 
town of this province does not appear. 3dly. They resolved to instruct 
their Re]3resentalive 1st, to endeavor that the perpetrators of these mis- 
chiefs be brought to justice. This appears to us to be the business of 
another department. We have executive courts and officers, whose busi- 
ness it is to punish offenders and we trust they are faithful. 2dly. They 
instruct him to endeavour that his tOAvn be excused from paying for said 
teas, which we think might have been omitted, at least, till there was a 
probability of a requisition from proper authority for payment. They 
conclude with a denunciation ' of all methods of imposition, violence and 
persecution, such as has been most shamefully exercised upon a number of 
inhabitants of Plymouth by obliging them to sign a recantation ' &c : Such 
bitter, virulent and injurious reflections on our brethren at Plymouth, 
ought not to have taken place until some shadow of proof had been adduced 
to the town, that any such violence &q. was ever practiced by them on a 
single person. The occasion of this our protest has given us gi'eat uneasi- 
ness and we were confident those extraordinary resolves would not have 
taken place but by the insinuations of a cei'tain gentleman who seems will- 
ing his constituents should share in the resentment of the whole country, 
which he has incurred by his conduct in a public character. We mean not 
to countenance riotous and disorderly conduct but, being convinced that 
liberty is the life and happiness of a community, are determined to con- 



MARSHFIELD DURING THE REVOLUTION. 



277 



tribute to our last mite in its defence, against the maciiinations of assuming, 
arbitrary men, who, stimulated with a hist of dominion and unrighteous 
gain are ever studying to subjugate this free people." Marshfield, Feb. 14, 
1774. {signed) : 



Anthony Thomas, 
John Brown, 
William Thomas, 
Thomas Foord, 
Thomas ^Vatt'rman, 
Isaac Phillips, 
Samuel Tilden, 
John Dingley, 
Joseph Kent, 
Benjamin White, 
Joseph Hewit, 
Thomas Fish, 
Jeremiah Low, 
Benjamin Tolman, 
Jetheo Taylor, 
Samuel Williamson, 
Nathan Thomas, 



Nehemiah Thomas, 
Benjamin White, Jr., 
Lemuel Delano, 
Jabez Dingley, 
Isaac Carver, 
Thomas Dingley, 
Samuel Smith, 
Thomas Waterman, Jr., 
Peleg Foord, 
Asa Waterman, 
John Waterman, 
John Shurman, 
Samuel Tilden, Jr., 
Samuel Oakman, 
Gershom Ewell, 
William Cllft, 
Joseph Bryant, 



Paul Sampson, 
John Oakman, 
Joseph Oakman, 
King Lapham, 
Barnard Tuels, 
Peleg Kent, 
Zenas Thomas, 
Joshua Carver, 
Lot Howes Silvester, 
David Carver, 
Nathaniel Thomas, 
William Thomas, Jr. 
Luther Peterson, 
Briggs Thomas, 
Elisha Kent, 
Timothy Williamson, 
Joseph Clift. 



In September of the same year, "patience ceased to be a 
virtue," and the inhabitants of the surrounding towns decided 
they could not permit Mr. Thomas to longer remain among 
them ; accordingly they marched to his house, but their bird 
had flown. The Boston Evening Post, of Sept. 12, 1774, 
says: 

" We hear from the County of Plymouth that, on Wednesday last, up- 
wards of 2000 of the substantial yeomanry collected from the several towns 
of Plymouth, Hanover, and I'embroke, repaired to the house of Nathaniel 
Ray Thomas, of Marshfield, one of the new Council ; but, having had 
some previous intimation of the intended visit of the people, he thought it 
unsafe to remain, even in Marshfield, and accordingly fled, the night be- 
fore, with all speed, to the City of Refuge." 

At the request of Nathaniel Ray Thomas, and three hundred 
other Loyalists of Marshfield, a company of the Queen's Guard, 
under Capt. Balfour, was sent down and quartered in Mr. 
Thomas' house. The wine closets constructed in the cellar by 
Capt. Balfour, for the use of himself and officers, were in ex- 
istence until the house was burned. (See foot note.) The 



Foot Note. Isaac Thomas who d. in Marshfield, March 6, 1859, remembered Capt. 
Balfour's visit plainly. Isaac Thomas descended from the youngest son of John and Sarah 
Thomas (see Thomas Genealogy, Brick-kiln Yard). Isaac, the only son of Zenas and 
wife Abigail, was b. Nov. 11, 1765, and d. Mar. 6, 1859. He was in his tenth year at the 
commencement of the American Revolution, and the strange acts of both Whig and 
Tory citizens of the place were indelibly impressed on his mmd. On Dec. 20, 1774 he 
beheld and followed with bo3nsh curiosity the Queen's Guards commanded by Capt. 
Balfour as they marched by the common, where his school room was situated, on their 
way from North River to their destined quarters at the mansion house of Nathaniel Ray 
Thomas. lie often spoke of the brightness of their bayonets as they glittered in that 
midday sun of one of the mildest days that the annals of past Decembers have recorded. 
He also, ou the morning succeeding the battle of Lexington, witnessed Capt. William 



278 MARSHFIELD DURING THE REVOLUTION. 

presence of troops greatly annoyed the inhabitants, and, after 
vainly applying to Gen. Gage to withdraw them, (see Chapter 
on Peml)roke Yards,) the militia of the surrounding towns 
marched to Marshtield for the purpose of routing them ; but 
Capt. Balfour embarked on board some British vessels lying off 
Brant Rock, a few hours before the arrival of the militia, part 
of it under Col. Bailey of Hanover. Had the militia arrived 
three hours earlier, the second battle of the Revolution would, 
without doul)t, have been fought in Marshfield. Another ac- 
count of how the British troops annoyed the inhabitants of 
these towns appeared in the Boston Gazette and Country Jour- 
nal, under date of Jan. 30, 1775 : 

"Card players are said to be no CEconomists. If the troops at Marsh- 
field do not pay Barrack money for the houses they occupj' there, yet where 
they fright a wife and children from home into a neighbour's house, pence 
may be saved, and thus Simple Saplin may be called (Economist." 

We will now return to the history of the ship-building at the 
Brooks & Tilden Yard. Elijah Broohs and George Tilden 
built here for about ten years. In 1838, William H. Tilden 
was interested with them. Elijah Brooks, b. Feb. 25, 1793, 
was the son of William. He mar. Maria Tilden, dau. of Jo- 
tham Tilden. They had children : 1. Elijah, (who mar. Liz- 
zie Turner, dau. of Samuel A. Turner, Esq. ; they had one 
child, now deceased.) 2. Franklin. 3. Maria, (who. mar. 
Benjamin A. Hathaway of Plymouth ; she d. leaving two 
daughters, Emma and Helen.) 4. Elizabeth. Elijah Brooks 
d. July 1, 1854, aged 61. William, his father, d. April, 1794, 
aged 80. Both are buried in the First Parish Cemetery, Nor- 
well. George Tilden d. about 1868. He married three times. 
By his first wife, Mercy Little Clift of Marshfield, he had on6 
child, George Wales, b. 1833, who mar. Alice Tilden, and they 
have one child by adoption. Mr- Tilden's second wife was 



Thomas and bis young kinsman as they ascended to the summit of the hill, and saw 
him discharge the three alarm guns while his attendant beat the drum, which was the 
concerted signal to acquaint the surrounding inhabitants of the commencement of hos- 
tilities. He saw the l)urning of the obnoxious tea on the height which yet bears its 
name, and saw the torch touched to the fire fated pile by that devoted Whig, Jeremiah. 
Low. He was fond of relating descriptions of the olden schoolroom. 

" Surely 'twas a rustic school-room 
All unplastered there it stood. 
Broad and deep its ancient hearthstone 
Where they rolled the logs of wood ; 
Coarse tlje furniture within it, 
Diamond lattices for light, 
Cross-legged table for the master 
Where he did the copies write." 



VESSELS BUILT BY BROOKS & TILDEX. 279 

Sybil Stetson of Scituate, and by her he had two danghters, 
Sybil, now dead, and Georgiana, who mar. Henry T. Jenlvins. 
He had no children by his third wife, Catharine Bailey of Scit- 
uate. In 1837, Brooks & Tilden built the sch. "HURON," 
106 tons ; owned by James Damon, Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Henry 
Bowsers, Seth Webb, and Francis Thomas of Scituate. James 
Damon was captain, and Mr. Anderson mate, to North Caro- 
lina From North Carolina she went to Barliadoes, loaded with 
staves and naval stores, with orders to sell at a limited price. 
They went to seven islands, including Guadaloupe, Martinique, 
Dominique, and finally sold the cargo at St. John, Antiqua ; 
then went to St. Thomas for provisions, and back to Little 
Wasliino-ton, N. C. The " Huron " was lost two or three years 
afterward, bound from Boston to Nassau, in the same hurricane 
that Capt. Coleman (formerly of Scituate) was lost in, in the 
brig " Anawan," wdiich left New York on the same day in Sep- 
tenTber, for Cuba, on which the "Huron " left Boston for Nas- 
sau. The same year, 1837, they built the sch., afterward Her. 
brig, "LEAVIS BRUCE," 113 tons, of Provincetown. This 
ves'sel was owned by Heman Smith of Boston, and was under 
Capt. Cook. She was condemned at the Cape de Verde Islands 
many years ago. The next year, 1838, they built the sch. 
" ERIE," 113 tons, of Scituate ; owners, Lemuel and Seth Webb 
of Scituate, and Elijah Brooks, William H. and George Tilden 
of Marshfield. They also built here the brig "MICHIGAN" 
and the sch. " ROANOKE." In 1840 they built the brig " JO- 
SEPH BALCH," 153 tons of Boston. Elijah Brooks built, in 
1843, the brig "ALLEN KING," 206 tons; owners, John 
Manson and o'eorge M. Allen of Scituate, and Elijah Brooks, 
master carpenter, of Marshfield. This was probably the last 
vessel built at this yard, and was not a successful one for her 
builders. She lay in Boston Harbor all one winter, and, while 
at anchor there, was damaged by a gale, and sold for a very 
low fio-ure to George N. Allen and Mr. King of Scituate Har- 
bor, and for these two gentlemen she was named. Being a very 
fast vessel, she was used as a fruiter, and coined money for her 
new owmers, under Capt. John Manson. He took her to the 
West Indies, and to Brazil, once or twice, but most of the time 
to :Malaga, in the Mediterranean. He left Malaga with a full 
caro-o ot^ fruit for New York, and arrived back in Malaga, with 
a full caro-o of staves, in sixty-two days, carrying back to Mal- 
ao-a the report of his own arrival in New York, being the quick- 
est passage ever made. He was fifty-eight days from Gibraltar 



280 EAELY OCCURRENCES IN MARSHFIELD. 

to New York and back. It will perhaps not be too much out 
of place to insert, between the history of these two yards, the 
record of a severe shock felt in jNIarshfield over one hundred 
years ago, a notice of which appeared in the Boston Evening 
Fosty Monday, March 15, 1773 : 

" We hear from Marshfield that, on the 21st ult.. in the night, the inhab- 
itants there were wak'd with a very loud noise, and considerable jar of tlie 
houses, which they took to be an earthquake ; but it is since conjectured 
that it was occasioned by the severe frost, as it was heard several times, 
sometimes louder than at others, by many, who rose immediately. The 
ground is cracked in many places several yards in length, so wide that a 
man may put his whole arm into the chasms." 

The same year there occurred here a sad accident, which is re- 
corded in the Boston Evening Post, Monday, July 19, 1773, as 
follows : 

"Last week, two boys went bathing into the water at Marshfield, when 
one of them, venturing beyond his depth, was unfortunately drowned." 

Two years before the above, a death occurred, the cause of 
which was probably, like most sudden deaths in those days, 
unknown, Init Avould be recognized to-day as apoplexy or heart 
disease. This was on May 20, 1771, an account of which is 
found in the Boston Evening Post, of June 10, 1771, as fol- 
lows : 

" We hear from Marshfield that, on the 20th of May, Mr. Kenelm Bake., 
ao-ed about 76 years, being at his mill, grinding a grist of corn, complain- 
ing of a pain in his stomach, when the corn was out went and stopt the 
mill, and, turning himself, fell against another man, and died in a minute 
or two." 

The William Taylor Yard, referred to earlier in this chapter, 
was occupied in later years by William Taylor and Israel Car- 
ver. William Taylor now lives (Sei)tember, 1889), on Tele- 
graph Hill, Marshtield, and is, without doubt, the oldest living 
ship-builder of the North River. Mr. Taylor was the son of 
Kichard and Lydia (Perry) Taylor, and was born in Scituate, 
Feb. 14, 1796. He learned his trade of a I\Ir. Thomas of Dux- 
bury, a somewhat noted ship-builder of his day, and imme- 
diately went to work on the River. On Dec. 6, 1825, he mar. 
Miss Eliza Kent, dau. of Capt. William Kent of JNIarshfield, 
who d. in 1875 ; and in 1881, in his eighty-fifth year, he mar. 
jNIiss Lydia Allen, who lived Init a few years. ]NIr. Taylor had 
the rei)utation of being one of the best workmen that wielded 
a broad axe in these parts, and his services were eagerly sought 
by all the master l)uilders on the river. Soon after his first 



VESSELS BUILT BY WM. TAYLOR & ISRAEL CARVER. 281 

marriage, he rented lialf of the house now owned by Mr. 
Bacon, near the North River Bridge, Pembroke, and com- 
menced to build vessels on his own account at the Brick-kiln. 
He built three or more vessels besides those at this yard, and 
took the position of foreman in different yards, which he held 
to the end of his lal)ors. He retired from work a few years 
since, and lives on his farm, surrounded by his sons, who have 
all been ship-masters in their younger days. Mr. Taylor has 
two daughters ; one is the wife of a sea captain on the Cape, 
and the other the wife of Ed. Arnold of Rockland. Mr. Tay- 
lor is a very humorous man, and loves to tell of his boyish 
pranks. For some fancied or real slight by a bevy of girls, in 
his younger days, he induced them to ride in a tip-cart, which 
he was driving, and, coming to quite a deep and swift running 
brook, he withdrew the fastenings, and dumped them all into 
the water, from which they emerged more wet than hurt. On 
some gentlemen observing to him, not long since, that he must 
have been strictly temperate to have arrived at his great age, 
he very humorously remarked that he had drank rum enough to 
float the largest ship tliat ever swam, and chewed tobacco 
enough to load her. Mr. Taylor has the appearance of a per- 
fectly well man of sixty. There was Iwilt at the Taylor & 
Carver Yard, in 1848, the sch. "LAKE," 74 tons, oak, copper 
and iron fastened, 67 feet long, break deck ; owned in 1863 by 
E. Barnard & Co., Bucksport, Me., Capt. Hopkins, and in 1869 
at Orland. In 1850 was built the sch. "HORN," Laban Smith, 
owner: Capt. Roliert Hall. Afterward, James Marble com- 
manded her. The " SOUTHER" was built here by Israel Car- 
ver. About 1860, William Taylor and Israel Carver built a 
schooner of about 70 tons, probably the "EDIE LITTLE," 
named after Edw. P. Little's wife. Among the ship-lmilders 
who left the North River were Henry and John Taylor, who 
went to Medford ; afterward, John Taylor went to Chelsea, and 
was the first to build there. Joshua T. Foster went to Medford 
from So. Scituate. Paul Curtis, William Cudworth (born in 
Sea View), and Elisha Hayden (of So. Scituate), went to Med- 
ford. Many of Scituate's first settlers came from Kent. Ed- 
ward Goodwin, of Boston, Mass., a shipwright, was of Chat- 
ham, in Kent, Eng., and without doubt the art of ship-building, 
so early established at North River and Boston, can be traced 
to the dock-yards of Chatham, on the jNIedway. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



BRIGGS YARD. 
(hobart's landing.) 



I 645-1 842. 

THOMAS NICHOLS, SAMUEL HOUSE, JR., JEREMIAH HATCH, WAL- 
TER HATCH, JEREMIAH HATCH, JR., ISRAEL HOBART, JAMES 
BRIGGS, SETH BRIGGS, JOHN BRIGGS, THOMAS BARKER BRIGGS, 
GUSHING OTIS BRIGGS, HENRY BRIGGS, CHARLES C. BRIGGS, 
WILLIAM T. BRIGGS. 



'T^HIS yard was located in Scituate, a short distance up the 
•^ river from Little's Bridge. It joined "Belle House Neck," 
which leads down to Little's Bridge. The old workhouse is 
still standing, and it is the only one now left on the river. On 
the side of the workhouse is the outline of a ship, cut nearly 
fifty years ago by H. O. Briggs, a descendant of the family 
who built vessels here for nearly a century. The old spring 
down by the stone landing is still running freely. The stone 
landing marks the spot about where the vessels stood. Vessels 
launched on this yard would shoot across the river into the 
opposite bank, and it would sometimes take two or three days 
to dig them out. Rufus Clapp claims the distinction of being 
the first to stop this, by putting planks across the stern, leav- 
ing the ends far out on each side, thus retarding the headway 
of the vessels in the water. 

Thomas Nichols, a shipwright, had lands, in 1645, near and 
southwest of the spot since known as Hobart's Landing, at 
which latter place he carried on the art of ship-building. We 
have been unable to learn of any living descendants of Thomas 



5 < 



^ tr^ 




SHIPBUILDERS HOUSE HATCH HOBART. 283^ 

Nichols, unless there be some in Cohasset. Thomas, Jr., suc- 
ceeded to his father's lands in Scituate, and his son Joseph, b. 
1673, lived near George Moore's Bridge. Joseph lost three 
sons in the French War, viz. : Joseph, Jr., Thomas, 3rd, and 
Noah. Israel, son of Joseph, resided at the old homestead, 
near the landing. He lost three sons in the Revolutionary 
War, viz. : Israel, Jr., Samuel, and Thomas, 4th. Caleb,, 
grandson of Israel, Sr., son of Caleb, lost three sons by ship- 
wreck — Caleb, Henry, and Reuben — at Cape Cod, in the 
"Cyrus," under Capt. Seth Gardner, in August, 1830.* Noah, 
who d. in the Revolution, left a ftmiily, viz. : 1. Nabby. 2. 
Betsey, who mar. Charles Jones. 3. Cynthia. 4. Lucy, wha 
mar., in 1818, ('hristopher Cushinsf, Esq., and, in 1827, Judge 
Wood of Middleboro'. 

Rebecca Nichols, dau. of Thomas, the ship-builder, mar., in 
1664, Samuel House, Jr., who succeeded his father-in-law at 
the yard, and continued the building of ships. Samuel resided 
a short distance northeast, and near the ship-yard. He was- 
son of Samuel, who resided southeast of Coleman's Hills in 
1636. Descendants of Samuel, the ship-builder, settled in 
Hanover, west of the Third Herring Brook, and in Pembroke, 
near the ponds. 

/^ and Walter Hatch built at the landing at 
ifivf*"^ ndx-JTi a later period. They were brothers, and 
sons of Elder William Hatch, who settled 
on Kent street, at the Harbor, in 1634. Jeremiah and Walter 
resided near each other, southeast of the Second Society's 
Meeting-house. They have numerous descendants in Plymouth 
County, and Vermont. Jeremiah mar. Mary, dau. of John 
Hewes, " the Welshman," and had fourteen children. Jeremiah, 
the oldest, succeeded to the ship-building at the landing. 

Israel Hobart, a shipwright, came into Scituate in 1676 from 
Hingham, where his house had been l)urned by the Indians in 
the spring of that year. He settled on North River at Hobart's 
Landing where he carried on the art of shipliuilding for many 
years. His house stood near the ship-yard and it was a spacious 
mansion adorned with two carved cherulis over the door. He 
was son of the Rev. Peter Hobart of Hingham, and was b. 1642, 
and d. 1731, aged 89. He probably occupied the ship-yard 



* See Block-house Yard. 



284 VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE. 

until it was used by the Briiigses. Previous to the time the 
Briggses occupied this yard, the following vessels were built in 
Scituate and probably many of them were built at Hobart's 
Landing by the above builders. In 1678 the brig't'n 
"SWALLOW," 35 tons, Capt. Ebenezer Dennis; owners, 
Penn Townsend, James Barton, Samuel Lillie, Boston ; owners 
in 1698, Penn Townsend, Samuel Lillie, Boston, Capt. John 
Ober. 1678, sip. " DESIRE," 16 tons. A round sterned open 
vessel ; owners in 1698, John Wing, mariner, Boston, and 
Mary Ellery, widow, of Gloucester. 1682, sip. " INDUSTRY," 
20 tons; owners, Capt. Jonas Clarke, Jonas Clarke, Jr., 
Camlnidge. 1683, sip. "JOHN & ABIGAIL," 25 tons. 
Captain in 1698, Joseph Flood, ownei, James Flood, 
Boston. 1684, "JOSEPH & BENJAMIN," 30 tons, 
owners, 1698, Capt. James Flood, of Boston, and Peter Coffin 
of Exeter, N. H. 1692, brig't'n "HOPE," 40 tons. Capt. 
Abraham Hill : owner, Samuel Lillie, Boston. 1692, sip. 
"THREE FRIENDS," 16 tons, square sterned open vessel. 
Daniel Ware, master; owners, Samuel Lillie, Boston, and 
William Peperel, Kittery. 1693, sip. " WILLIAM & MARY," 
40 tons, John Tulley, master; owners, Jonathan Evans, 
Bronsden & William Hobby, merchants, John Gerrish, gun- 
smith, Samuel Greenwood, shipwright, and James Berry, 
mariner, Boston. 1693, bark "MARY," 60 tons; owners, 
Capt. John Foster, Samuel Legg, Edward jSIartyn, Benjamin 
Alford, Edward Thomas and Thomas Walker, of Boston. 1693, 
ship "NINETY," 90 tons; James Barnes, Jeremiah Allen, 
merchants, Bartholomew Green, William Dewsbury, Jeremy 
Dumer, Robeil Calep, John ]\Iarshal and Capt. Nathaniel Green, 
who was master, were the owners. 1694, ketch "GOOD- 
HOPE," 25 tons, Capt. John Peabody ; owner, John Coleman, 
Boston. 1694, ship "MARY," 80 tons; owners, Capt. 
Benjamin Thaxter, Benjamin Alford, Samuel Lego;, Thomas 
AValker and Edward Martin of Boston. 1694, slp^^'^BLACK- 
THORNE," 30 tons, of Gloucester; owner, Capt. John 
Harradine. 1697, ship " SARAH," 90 tons, a square sterned 
vessel ; owners, Robert Howard, merchant, John Hob1)y and 
Robert Crosby of Boston. 1698, brig't'n "SAV ALLOW," 20 
tons, lately called " Blessinrf ; owners, Thomas Miers and 
Samuel Lillie of Boston. 1698, brig't'n "SPEEDWELL," 40 
tons; owner, John Frizel of Boston. 1699, ship "PROVI- 
DENCE," 80 tons, Capt. Joseph Royal, Jr., John Coleman, 
Andrew Belcher and Samuel Legg of Boston, OAvners. 1699, ship 



VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE. 285 

"PRUDENCE & DOROTHY," 60 ton.s, of Island of Barbadoes ; 
owners, Ca})t. John Frizell of Boston, John Phillips and John 
Trent of Barl)adoes. These were all built as is seen prior to 
1700. Connnencing with the next century there was built in 
the year 1700 the brigt'n " DOROTHY," 30 tons, Capt. Thomas 
Clutty ; owners, John Frizell, John Plobby and Thomas 
Hutchinson of Boston. 1702, ship " LEOPOLD GALLY," or 
^^ Leopold," a gallei/ s/n'p, 70 tons, Capt. John Pitts; owners, 
Stephen Vassal, of the Island of Jamaica, merchant, and William 
Clarke of Boston. 1703, sip. "ANNE," 35 tons; owners, 
Ebenezer, James and Daniel Coffin of Nantucket, and Andrew 
Belcher of Boston. 1704, sip. "LYON." 30 tons; owner, 
Andrew Belcher of Boston. 1704, brig "TRYALL," 60 tons ; 
owners, JohnColman of Boston, and Richard Eaton of London, 
merchants. 1705, ship "VICTORY," 90 tons; owners, 
Samuel Lilly, merchant, and Lewis Hunt, of Boston. 1705, 
ship "REBECCA," 90 tons, lately called the " F/ctor^." 
owners, Thomas Clark, David Jeffries, Francis Burroughs, 
Samuel Phillips, William Clark and Eliah Adams of Boston. 
1706, brig't'n "UNITY," 65 tons; owners, Daniel Oliver, 
Joseph Wadsworth and Nathaniel Oliver, of Boston. 1706, 
sip. "MAYFLOWER," 25 tons; owners, Joseph and Isaac 
Ryal of the Island of Antigua. 1711, ship "FRIENDSHIP," 
60 tons. Jon'a Belcher, merchant, and Andrew Belcher of 
Boston, owners. 

Hobart's Landing and the Briggs ship-yard was late the 
residence and farm of Nathan Rogers. It is now owned by his 
heirs. Adjoining this farm toward the sea is a high elevation 
of land called the "Bell House Neck" from the fact of there 
having been a bell hung there over two centuries ago, which 
was rung to warn the early settlers of the approach of hostile 
Indians. The Neck was not far from Little's Bridge, it was 
an ancient Indian burying place, and was later known as Cush- 
ing's Neck. Brookhall Field was on the the North side and 
Schewsan's Neck was on the Northeast. The first landholder 
excepting William Vassall, of record at Bell House Neck appears, 
to have been Samuel Fuller one of the " Mayflower " company. 
He owned twenty acres of ^and " on the East of Bell House 
Neck," and adjoining the farm of Mr. Vassall. In 1643 Peter 
Collamore succeeded to the Fuller land and erected a house. 
This farm was known as the Collamore Place for two centuries. 
In 1634-5 Elder Thomas ICing came into Scituate with Mr. W^il- 



286 BELL HOUSE NECK. 

Ham Vassall and built a house a few rods south of Mr. Vassall's 
on the top of the hill at Bell House Neck. Resolved AA'hite, who 
came to Plymouth in the "Mayflower," in 1620, had by order 
of the Colony Court, in 1640, a grant of "100 acres of upland 
and marsh on 'Bell House Neck' adjoining Mr. Vassall's farm 
on the south-east." The same year he mar. Judith, eldest dau. 
of William Vassall and in 1646, Mr. Vassall gave him other 
lands adjoining his. Later Jeremiah Burroughs came into 
possession of the White farm and after him Lieut. Isaac Buck, a 
blacksmith, who in 1660 built a house near Scituate Harbor. 
William Vassall, also referred to in the chapter on " North 
River, Continued," received probably the first grant of land at 
Bell House Neck. Deane says, " He denominated his planta- 
tion 'West Newland,' his house, erected 1635, 'Belle House,' 
the whole neck of land, 'Belle House Neck,' and a beautiful 
field of planting land on the North side of the Neck, 'Brook 
hall field.'" The bell to warn the settlers of the approach of 
Indians was very likely at Mr. Vassall's house, and he with- 
out doubt first gave the above name to this neck. Captain John 
Vassall, son of William, succeeded to part of the plantation in 
1634, and sold his part in 1661 to John Cushing. In 1743 
John Cushing, 3rd, resided here. The latter year he built a 
house southeast of Walnut Tree Hill.* A large farm on the 
bank of North River adjoining the Briggs ship yard was owned 
by the noted Capt. George Little, master of the "Boston 
frio;ate." Captain Little also took the ship " Barsu " after a 
severe engagement about the year 1812. Capt. Little's son, 
Amos R. Little, went out with his cousin, Luther Little, of 
Marshfield, to shoot wild pigeons in 18 L5. Luther Little was 
partially deranged, and while on Belle House Neck he shot his 
cousin in a fit of insanity, and then himself. The sudden deaths 
of these two 3'oung men cast a gloom over Scituate and Marsh- 
field for some time. 

The Briggs family built ships at Hobart's Landing probably 
as early as 1750. James Briggs was the first of that name 
recorded as having built here. He was b. in 1719 and was a 
lineal descendant of Walter and a direct ancestor of the author. 
A genealogy of the Briggs family is inserted here ; the names 
of the direct line from the ancestor Walter are printed in small 
capitals, jpr^/?.raZ by Roman numerals, excepting the names of 
the shipbuilders, which are printed in italics. 



* See chapter, Miscellaneous Yards, Scituate. 



5. s 



5 2 




WALTEE BKIGGS, " YEOMAN." 287 

GENEALOGY. 

"\ 17" ALTER Briggs, the common ancestor of the shipbuilders 
* '^ in the Briggs family, was in Scituate as early as 1643. 
He purchased, in 1651, a farm of Timothy Hatherly, on the 
north side of Farm Neck, The Cove within the Glades was 
named, as early as 1650, after Walter Briggs, and still bears 
the name of Briggs Harbor. It is on the extreme northeast 
point of Scituate. The Indian name for this harbor was Mish- 
QUASHTUCK. Vcssels of small burthen were years ago built 
here and fishing and coasting craft used to winter in this cove. 
In the South Shore Herald, of April 8, 1884, there appears an 
account of the wreck of the sch. "Australia," Capt. Thompson, 
during a severe gale on the easterly banks of Briggs Harbor. 
The vessel made the harbor passing over White Head Bar 
safely, but her cable parted, and she was driven ashore. She 
was from Rockport, Me., bound to Boston with a cargo of 750 
barrels of lime which caught fire soon after she struck. In the 
Plymouth Colony Records, Volume 8, under date of August, 
1643, among 

" The names of all the males that are able to bear armes from 
1 6 years old to 6o years within the sevrall Towneshipps " 

appears the name of "Walter Briggs, Scituate." In the 
same volume, and on page 183, appears the name of Walter 
Briggs of Scituate as having taken the "oath of Fidel- 
itie. " Januar. 15, 1644." On June 6, 1649, Waher Briggs 
was chosen one of the " Servayors of the Iliewayes " of Scitu- 
ate, and June 5, 1651, he was on the "Grand Enquest." In 
the census or list of Freemen, taken 1658, appears the name of 
"Walter Briggs Scitteatte." The Colony Treasurer's account 
states that he paid "June 13. 1660 To Walter Briggs for a 
woulfe 15 shilling." In 1665, June 7, Walter Briggs was 
appointed a constable of the town of Duxbury. He owned 
lands in the town of Swanzey in 1677-79, being one of the 
purchasers of Showamett. In the Suffolk County Records, 
Book 9, page 212, an instrument of writing, dated June 22, 
1675, is recorded, whereby Samuel Winslow, of Boston, mer- 
chant, acknowledges having received from his father-in-law, 
Walter Briggs, " of Scitteate in the Collony of New Plimouth 
Yeoman," the sum of £200, which the said Walter Briggs had 
obliged himself to pay to said Winslow, when he should have 
purchased a house and ground of about that value, and secured 
the same by a proper deed to his wife, Hannah, (daughter of 



288 WALTER BRIGGS. 

the said Walter) for her life, and at her death to be disposed of 
for the benefit of her children by the said Samuel Winslow :. 
And in the said instrument he further agrees that his wife 
Hannah shall stand and be seized on the terms and conditions, 
above set forth, of a certain piece of property described as 
follows : "All that his now dwelling house situate in said Bos- 
ton being butted and bounded Southwest by the street that 
leads from the Second Meetinghouse toward Century Haven, 
Northwesterly by the land of Esdras Read, Northeasterly l)y 
the land of Kichard Bennett and Southeasterly by the land of 
John Williams." On July 22, 1676, "the Court allowed 
Walter Briggs £5, 18s. 07d. in land for services in King 
Phillip's war." Walter Briggs held large landed estates in 
Scituate. Deane says "he was long a useful man in the plan- 
tation." By his will and the following deed, it will be seen he 
owned slaves. 

"Know all Men by these Presents that I, Margret Cock the wife of Edw. 
Cock of Boston in New England Marriner witnesseth that the said Margret Cock for and 
in consideration of the sum of fonrteen pounds tenn shillings payed by Walter Briggs 
of Scituate in New England aforesaid unto me the said Margret Cock the receipt 
whereof is acknowledged by these presents ; have for myselfe and husband, by vertue of 
a ietter of attorney and power thereby given to me by my saia husband ; given granted, 
bargained and sould unto the said Briggs all our right tytle intrest claime or demand 
that we the said Margret Cock or Edw. Cock have in or to a negro girle cilled by the 
name of Maria: And to the only pp. use and behoof of him the said Walter Brigg his 
heires, executors admrs. & assignes : During her natural 1 fe. And the said Margt. 
Cock on the behalf of her husband and by virtue of that power and authority granted 
unto her by her said husband and for him herself and their heires executors, admrs. & 
assignes doe covenant promise and grant to and with the sd Walter Briggs his heires, 
exectutors admrs and assignes that he the said Briggs his heires, exors admrs and 
assignes may and shall from this time and at all times during the naturall life of the 
said negro imploy, improve and in every respect comand and improve the said negro 
girl as his and their propar estate without the lest moliestaion hinderance contradicion 
or denyall of any pson or psons whatsoever claimeing or haveing or pretending to have 
any right title intrest claime or demand m or to the said ne^ro girle And that the said 
Cock for herselfe and husband doe covenant and promise to and with the said Walter 
Briggs his heires and assignes that they the said Margt Cock and Edw. Cock her hus- 
band at ye very time and'instante immediatt;ly before the sealsing, signeing, and di^^liv- 
ery of these presenrs weare tlie true and lawfull owners of the said negro girle And 
alsoe doe covenant and promise to defend the said Walter Briggs his heires and assignes 
against any pson or psons lawfully or unlawfully claimeing or pretending to have any 
right, tytle or intrest in the said negro girle. In witness whereof the said Margt. Cock 
on the behalfe of her husband ana herselfe in confirmation of this bill of saile have set 
to her hand and seale this six and twentyeth day of March one thousand six hundred 
seaventy "St three, 
signed sealed & this bill of saile 

and negro girle above written de- the marke of 

livered to the said Walter Briggs Margrett (N) Cock [seal] 

by the said Margt Cocke in the 
presence of us 

the marke of 

Richard (jt) Bennett 

Joshua Holdsworth." 

The name Cock is now usually spelled Cox. 



WILL OF WALTER BRIGGS. 289 

BOND. 

Know all Men by these Presents that I Mar?ret Cocke on the behalfe of ray 

husband Ed\v. Cock as also for niyselfe our heirs, execturs admrs and assisnes have 

firmely bound ourse ves our heirs, execturs admrs & assignes unto Walter Briggs of 

Scituate in ^ew England his heires;^exectors admrs & assigns in the sum of twentv-nine 

?wenl4t'h d""orCri67/"^' '^"°"''°' '''''' ''''''' ""' ^^"^ '^'^^ '''' '^^^ ^^^ -^ 
The condition of this obligation is such that if the above written Walter Brin-o-s ';hall 
enjoyea negro gu-Ie called Maria according to the true meaning of a deed of saTle beare- 
mg date with these presents then this bond is to be of noe force or otherwise to be in full 
power and vertue in law. 
Signed sealed and delivered 
in presence of us the marke of 

RichtdT^) Bennett Margrett (Mc) Cock [seal] 

Joshua Holdsworth 

Walter Briggs probably married twice, his first wife's name 
being Mary; his second, Frances. He died about 1684. The 
following is a copy of his will taken from the Plymouth Colony 
Eecords, Court Orders, Vol. 6. ptige i), Part 2. 

WILL OF WALTER BRIGGS. 

In ye Name of God Amen, ye 16th. day of January in ye year of our Lord God one 
thousand six hundred seventy six. I, Walter Briggs, in ye jurisdiction of New Ply- 
mouth, m New England, in America, yeoman, being aged, but of sound & perfect 
memory, praise be given unto God for ye same, and calling unto remembrance ye 
uncertam estate of this transitory life, & that all flesh must yield unto death when it 
shall please God to call, & being desirous to settle things in order do make constitute 
ordain and declare this my last will or Testament in manner and form following 
revoking & annulling by these presents, all & every Testament or Testaments, Will & 
Wills heretofore by me made <V declared either by words or writint- & this to be fqkpn 
only for my last Will & Testament & no othei' And iirst & prrncfpany, I cSm^^^^^^ 
my soul unto Almighty God, My creator, assuredly believing I shall recei^ fuH pardon 
& free remission of all my sin;, & be saved by ye precloirs blood & merritts of mv 
blessed bavior & Redeemer Christ Jesus, and my body to ye earth ?rom whence ft 
was taken o be buried in such decent & Christian manner" as to my ExecnUor hereafter 
named shall be bought meet & convenient, And as touching such worldly estate as ve 
Lord in mercy hath lent me, my will & meaning is ye same & shall be eiZloyed & 
bestowed as hereafter in this my will is expressed? empioyeu & 

I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Frances Briggs six pounds ner annum 
during her lite, to be paid by my executor hereafter named, in come or cattle o^anv 
other pay I give and bequeath unto my said wife two cowes, & my will s that my 
executor keep them tor her both in ye winter and summer, without a^ny trouble to ^I 
I give and l)equeath unto my said wife, one of ye two beds we lay on & ve furniture 
belonging to it, to be at her dispose when she die. I bequeath unto my wife dS her 
We ye lower rooms of ye west end of my dwelling house, & liberty of a bird pYrtSfve 
cellar & room in ye chamber over ye cellar, to put anything as she may have occasion 

hnnt ' tr'y,'° "''"'' "'1k^*' 1"^^^' '^■^"'^^ ^^ o'^e^ ^e^^^e'^ c^ommoiily made use oMn ?e 
ho se, that she may use them as she hath occasion, but not to dispose of them And I 
will her libercy of keeping two swine, & I will her liberty to make usf of yftwo gardens 
& she to have two-th,rds & my executor to have one-third of what L raiseth offThem 
I will that my execu or allow my said wife a gentle horse or mare, to ride to meetin-^; 
any other occasion she may have & that Jenny, ve Neger catch it Ker Also I^wm 

I give and bequeath unto my son John Briggs as or for a homestead mv dwpllinfr 
teekrS- V '4'[f ' T' ^""1"^'- y^rds & gardens belonging to Tt ^^h n/y orchard^ 
barn held & ye helds of ye northerly end of ye barn field, & from ye northwest corner of 



290 WILL OF "WALTER BRIGGS. 

out of ye premises which is before willed her during her life. I give & bequeath 
unto my son, James Briggs, as or for a homestead ye house he dwells in, with 
ye whole field in which his house stands & from ye southwest corner of ye 
sheep pen on a straight line towards the southwest to a maple tree by ye 
fence, unto ye fence of ye barn field, & by ye fence around his barn until it 
comes to ye bars going into James his field, near ye northwest corner of ye Sheep 
pen, & in case this falls short in quantity of that settled on my son John, then my 
mind and will is that ye full quantity of ye lands be made up of ye lands adjoining ye 
field on ye Easterly side of the fields, the whole length of his fields in equal breadth from 
end to end, & this I settle upon my son James Brings, his heirs and assigns forever; And 
my mind and will is that during ye life of my wife that my son John Briggs, take ye 
profit & benefit of two thirds of all ye rest of my lands undivided & my son James 
Briggs one third of ye profit thereof . But after my wife's decease, my mind & will is 
that all my lands in Scituate not divided as before shall be equally divided betwixt my 
son John & my son James always being provided, & so it is to be understood, & no 
otherwise in case my son James pay a legacie of forty pounds unto his sister Hannah 
Winslow in one year after my wife's decease which legacy of forty pounds I do by these 
presents give and bequeath unto my daughter, Hannah Winslow. But in case he shall 
refuse or neglect to pay ye same as aforesaid, then my will is that my son John Briggs 
pay ye said legacie of forty pounds unto my daughter Hannah Winslow, & then my 
mind & will is thut my son John shall have two thirds of all ye lands undivided as afore- 
said unto him & his heirs & assigns forever, & my son James one third thereof to film 
his heirs & assigns forever. I do give and bequeath unto my son Cornelius Briggs one 
whole freeman's share of land that already appertains unto a share or shall ever here- 
after appertain, in Swansy & on ye easterly side of Taunton River, &on ye East -ward of 
Cushino [Ohosino] or elsewhere, & this I bequeath to my son Cornelius, his heirs & assigns 
forever. Also I give & bequeath unto my son Cornelius, thirty pounds to be paid him 
within one year, after my decease, by my executor hereafter named. All ye rest of my 
goods & chattels movables & immovables not mentioned nor disposed of, I give to my 
eldest son John Briggs, whom I make & appoint to l)e sole executor of this my last will 
& testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal ye day and year 
first above written. Memorandum. I give & bequeath to my executor ten pounds in 
money to defray my funeral expenses this before sealing. 

(^Sigried.) 
Signed, sealed & delivered WALTER BRIGGS. (Seal.) 

by Walter Briggs to be 
his Will & Testament in ye 
presence of us — 

William Hatch, 

James Cudworth. 

William Hatch testified upon oath before 
ye Court that he did see Walter Briggs, sign, 
seal & declare this above written to be his 
last Will & Testament. Done before ye Court 
held at Tlymouth this 4th. June, 1684. 
Nathaniel Morton, Secretary." 

Frances, wife of Walter, probably did not long survive liim, 
and "ye little neger girle, Maria," fell into the hands of his son 
John, who died before the birth of his son, John 2nd, April 
28, 1687. De])orah, widow of John, and administratrix of his 
estate, disposed of Maria as follows : 

" To all Christian people to whom this psent writeing shall come I Deborah Briggs 
of Scittuate in ye County of New Plimouth in New England &c. and administratrix to my 
late husband's estate : send Greeting : Whereas ye within named Maria a negro girl is 
servant to me for terme of life by virtue of my being administratrix to my sayd late 
husbands esteate & as doth appear by this within written bill of sale. Now know ye I ye 
sayd Deborah Briggs for divers good causes & considerations me especially move- 
ing have given granted assigned & set over & by these psents do fully & absolutely 
give grant assign & set over unto Cornelius Briggs of Barnstable in ye County of 
Barnstable in New England all such ri?ht, title, duty, term of servitude to come 
claime intrest service and demands whatsoever which I ye said Deborah Briggs have 



" MARIA, YE NEGRO SERVANT." 291 

of, in or to, ye sayd within named Maria ye negro my sayd servant [together with a 
little boy (named William) l)orne ot ye said Maria's body since .ye wlthm written] or 
which I might or ought to have of & in them by force and vertue of ye within written 
bill of sale. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & scale this twenty fourth 
day of January one thousand six hundred eighty & eight or eighty nine. 

(Sif/Med.) 
Signd, sealed & delivered DEBORAH BRIGGS. [Seal.] 

in ye psencc of us wittnesses 

John . 

Anthony Collamer. 
Samuell Clay." 

Capt. Cornelius Briggs, who was son of Walter, died 
1693-94. His brother, James, settled his estate and his 
interesting will dated April 21, 1()93, provided that his 
"negro servant woman named 'Mauri a' shall 13 years after 
date he set free and at lilierty to be at her own disposino-." 
She was sold under these conditions as appears by the follow- 
ins: deed : 

"Know all Men by these Pbesents that I, Lieut. James Briggs, executor to the 
last will and testament of my brother Capt. Cornelius Briggs late deceased have bar- 
gained and sold unto Stephen Otis of Scituate a negro woman called Morigh, to serve 
the said Otis or his heirs or assigns from the date of these presents until eleven years 
shall be fully ended and completed which eleven years begins the 22 day of April next 
insuing the daie of these presents at the end of which term of time the negro woman 
is to be free and at her own disposel as doth appear more at large by my brother's last 
will and testament; and I do covenant to and with the said Otis that at the time of the 
above bargained presents that I have full power to sell the said negro woman for the 
term of the years above mentioned. I said Briggs do acknowledge that I have received 
in hand of the said Otis eleven pounds silver money for the said negro woman. In 
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th. day of February 1694. 
Witness. 
Job Otis JAMES BRIGGS. [Seal] 

Cornelius II., son of Walter Briggs I, mar. March 20, 
1677, Mary, widow of Samuel Russell who was killed in the 
Reholioth battle in King Phillip's War, 1676. Mary was dau. 
of James Doughty, whose fiiniily removed to Connecticut, and 
gr. dau. of Humphrey Turner. Cornelius was an ensign in 
King Phillip's AVar. They had children : 1. Joseph, b. April 
29, 1679, mar. in 1709, Mary Garratt, and left dau's. : Mary, 
b. 1711 ; Hannah, who became the wife of Dea. Joseph Clapp 
in 1732 ; and Judith, who became the wife of William Collier 
in 1748. 2. Cornelius, b. Dec. 10, 1680, mar. Ruth Barker 
and probably removed to Swanzey. III. Ja3ies, b. 1683. 

Capt. John, sonof Walter I., mar. and had several children,* 
but this branch of the family, Deane says, removed or became 
extinct. The familv of Lieut. James, son of Walter I., can also 



* See Deane's Hist, of Scituate. 



292 BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 

be found in Deane's History. As these families are not of the 
ship-building l)ranch, their genealogy is not inserted here. 

Joseph Briggs, who mar. Deliorah Holbrook, in 1703, was 
ancestor to the Scituate Harbor shipbuilders named Briggs and 
their genealogy can be found under the chapter devoted to the 
Harbor, and in Deane's History. 

Hannah, dau. of Walter I., mar. Samuel Winslow of Cares- 
well, and was sister-in-law of Miles Standish, Jr. Probably 
U})on the death of Cornelius one or more of his children passed 
into the care of his sister Hannah Winslow of Boston. 

James HI., son of Cornelius H., mar.. May 7, 1713, Eliza- 
beth, dau. of Joseph Garrett, and gr. dau. of Lieut. Isaac 
Buck. By her he had 1. dau. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 20, 1715, d. 
April 29, 1723. Elizabeth, wife of James, d. about the time 
her dau. was born, and he mar. 2ndly, Oct. 4, 1710, Hannah 
Stowell (or Stoele) who d. ]\Iay 16, 1792. By her he had 
children: 2. John, b. Jan. 1, 1718, d. Feb. 28, 1807, (John 
mar., in 1751, Abigail Neal, and had chiklren : John, Abigail, 
Anna, Joshua, Sabera, Rebecca, Elisha, a soklier in the Rev- 
olution, who d. Sept. 21, 1843, Lydia and Deborah, born be- 
tween 1751 and 1767). 

HI. James, Jr., the ship-builder, b. Feb. 27, 1719 (see his 
genealocry at the end of this generation). 4. jSeth, the ship- 
buikler,"b. Aug. 2S, 1721, d. in Pembroke, July 23, 1801. 
(Seth mar. in 1745, Abigail Church, and from them descended 
the ship-building family of Briggs in Pembroke and Milton. 
See continued chapter Brick-kiln Yard). 5. Job, b. Oct. 28, 
1722, d. Kov. 9, 1722. 6. Elisha, b. Oct. 26, 1723. 7. 
Hannah, b. Nov. 27, 1724. (It was prol)ably Hannah who 
mar. John Holmes of Scituate, in 1746). 8. Rachel, b. Dec. 
23, 1726, (Rachel was probably a dau. of James, and mar. in 
1745 Samuel Curtis). 

b. Nov. 3, 1728, 
■^^ ^^^-^ (mar. 1753, Je- 

rusha Church and 
had children : Mary, Cornelius, Samuel, Joseph and Charles 
born between 1753 and 1768). 10. William, b. July 23, 1731, 
the youngest child of James and Hannah d. Dec. 7, 1815. He 
was a shoemaker and yeoman, and mar. in 1754, Elizabeth, dau. 
of Joseph Copeland. She wasb. May 6, 1736, andd. Aug., 1828* 




Lucv Otis. 
(Mrs. Thus. B. Briggs.) 



BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 293 

They had children : Rachel, Ruth, Vrilliam, EJijaJi, the ship- 
builder, Lemuel, Elizabeth, John, Charles, Cornelius and 
Hulda, (who mar. Major Pratt) born between 1754 and 1780, 
and whose descendants are living in Scituate, Milton and Salem. 
Of the Salem branch Elijah took the shipyard of his cousin 
Enos in South Salem after his death. For a list of the vessels 
he built in Salem between 1816 and 1829 see Sketch of Salem, 
published by Osgood & Bachelder, 1879. Elijah was mar. at 
Salem, Aug. 6, 1789, to Hannah, dau. of James and Prudence 
(Proctor) Buffington. She Avas b. Jan. 30, 1767, and d. May 
29, 1847. After his marriage Elijah purchased an estate in 
Scituate, where he resided about seven years when he removed 
to Salem, where he d. Aug. 24, 1838, leaving sons : James B. 
and William, and a dau. Elizabeth, wife of Richard Wheatland. 
For account of his vessels see Historical Collection Essex Insti- 
tute, Vol. 6, pp. 174, 175. 

James HI., Jr., the shipbuilder, son of James III., mar., in 
1745, Hannah Barker. James was in the French War and 
belonged to the New England troops, led by Col. John Wins- 
low, when they took Louisburg for the first time in 1744, 
which was one of the greatest achievements of the French War. 
James Briggs also had charge of a watch box on the 3rd Cliff, 
in 1775, during the Revolutionary war. It was he who built 
the famous ship " Columbia." A further account of him is 
given later in this chapter. He d. May 29, 1804. Hannah, 
his wife, d. May 16, 1792. They had children: i. Han- 
nah, b. Dec. 31, 1746. 2. Sarah, b. Nov. 3, 1748 ; probably 
d. young. 3. Lucy, b. April 15, 1751 ; probably d. young. 

4. James, b. March 14, 1753, mar. Deborah . He d. 

Oct. 12, 1792, aged 40 years. She d. Aug. 10, 1782, aged 21 
years. 5. Sarah and 6, Lucy, twins, b. July 7, 1755, neither 
of whom ever married. Lucy d. in March, 1832. VII. 
TJiomas Barl-er, the shipbuilder, b. July 13, 1757, was the 
youngest child of James HI., Jr., and Hannah. He mar. Oct. 
10, 1784, Lucy, dau. of James Otis, M.D., and sister of the 
Hon. Cushing Otis, M.D.* Thomas Barker BriiriTs d. Oct. 26, 
1806; Lucy, his wife d. in Dec, 1832. They "had children: 
1. Thomas, b. June 20, 1785; d. Aug. 29, 1861, unmarried. 
//. Cushing Otis, the shipbuilder, b. Feb. 25, 1787. ///. 
Heni'f/, the shipbuilder, b. Mar 11, 1789. 4. Charles, b. 



* See chapter on Chittenden Yard. 



294 BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 

Oct. 12, 1791. 6. Deborah, 1). Nov. l(i, 1801; d. Dec. 26, 
1875, unmarried. 

Cushinff OtiK II., son of Thomas Barker VII., mar. in Jan., 
1813, Mercy Little, dau. of *Ichal)od Thomas of Pembroke. 
She wash. Sept. 25, 1791. Gushing O. d. in Braintree, Mass., 
Mar. 10, 1861, aged 74 years. Mercy, his Avife, d. Aug. 16, 
1862, aged 70 yrs. 11 mos. They had eight children : 

1. Charles Cushing, b. Oct. 8, 1813; d. Apr. 11,1843, 
aged 29 yrs., unmarried. 

2. William Thomas, b. Dec. 1. 1815, mar., 1st, in Scituate, 
Oct. 20, 1846, Harriet Swan Dana of Woodstock, Vt. She 
d. in North Andover, March 7, 1849, aged 30 years. By her 
he had child, 1., Harriet Swan. b. Mar. 7, 1849 ; d. Sept. 29, 
1849. He mar., 2ndly, Nov. 10, 1852, Abby Learnerd Davis, 
of Oxford, Mass., and by her he had children: 2. Abby 
Davis, b. Dec. 8, 1853, in'North Andover; d. Dec. 19, 1853. 
3. William Harrison, b. March 10, 1855, in North Andover, 
mar., in 1885, Yivia Rowley, of iSIontezuma, Iowa. 4. Helen 
Leroy, b. Sept. 15, 1858, in Princeton, mar., Sept. 22, 1885, 
Rev. Carleton P. Mills, of Williamstown, Mass., and they have 
two children: Margaret, b. Aug. 31, 1886, and Dorothy, b. 
Aug. 23, 1888. 5."Anna Isabella, b. Sept. 27, 1861, in Prince- 
on, d. July 17, 1866, in East Douglas. 

3. Hannah Barker, b. June 13, 1819, mar. in Boston, June 
12, 1849, Francis James, formerly of Scituate. They have 
children: 1. Emma Frances, b. June 2, 1850, mar. Feb. 27, 
1873, J. Payson Bradley, of So. Boston, formerly of Methuen, 
and they have had three children : Francis Edwin, b. Nov. 21, 
1873; Fannie Josephine, b. March 1, 1877; Marion, b. June 
12, 1886; d. Aug. 27, 1888. 2. Edwin Irving, b. Feb. 5, 
1854, mar. Feb. 26, 1883, Minnie H. Pierce, of So. Boston, 
by whom he has had three children : Florence, b. Feb. 23, 
1884, d. Aug. 11, 1884. Edwina, 1). Sept. 6, 1885, and Nel- 
son Pierce, b. Nov. 30, 1888. 3. Charles Thomas, b. Aug. 21, 
1856. 4. Arthur Holmes, b. Oct. 7, 1858. 

4. James Edwin, 1). May 8, 1821, mar. Jan. 6, 1847, Har- 
riette Richmond, dau. of Jothani Stetson of Medford. She 
was b. May 14, 1825, and d. Oct. 10, 1879. He d. June 24, 



* See chapter on Brick-kiln Yard. 




-^L.y^^^ ^^ '^^^^^^^J^ 



BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 295 

1880. They hud children: 1. Frank Stetson, b. Feb. 21, 
1848; d. Nov. 21, 1859. 2. Edwin Richmond, b. Sept. 8, 
1860 ; d. Sept. 24, 1860. 3, by adoption, Lilian Frederica, 
b. Nov. 11, 1861. 

5. Harrison Otis, b. Jan. 30, 1824, mar. Oct. 14, 1847, 
Hannah Elizalieth, dau. of Alpheus Stetson of So. Boston. She 
was b. Nov. 17, 1828, and d. Nov. 27, 1881. He d. Dec. 6, 

1881. They had children : 1. Ella Stetson, b. Dec. 21, 1849, 
mar. Feb. 9, 1871, George Andrew Thayer, of Boston, and 
they have had two children: Elaina, b. March 3, 1872, and 
Florence Brig-gs, b. Dec. 31, 1873. 2. Lizzie Florence, b. 
Sept. 1, 1S53, mar. June 8, 1880, Andrew Gerrish AVelister, 
of Boston, and they have had two children : Harrison Briggs, 
b. Jan. 26, 1884, and David Locke, 2nd, b. Nov. 6, 1888. 
3. Frank Harrison, b. Feb. '2<o, 1860. 4. Harrison Otis, Jr., 
b. July 26, 1871, d. Nov. 2^, 1872. 

6. Mary Thomas, b. April 11, 1828, mar. April 14, 1852, 
James T. Tolman of Scituate. They have had children : 
1. Moraianna, 1). April 4, 1856. 2. Herbert Gushing, b. 
Nov. 4,"l865. 

7. Lloyd, b. April 8, 1830, mar. Nov. 15, 1858, Sarah 
Elizabeth Elms Kent,* dau. of Noah B. Kent of So. Boston. 
She was b. in Scituate, Sept. 22, 1834. They have had chil- 
dren : 1. Harriette Stetson, b. Jan. 29, 1860; d. June 23, 
1879. 2. Velma, b. Oct. 20, 1861. 3. Lloyd Vernon, b. 
Aug. 13, 1863. 

8. Franklin, b. Jan. 9, 1833. 

Henry III., son of Thomas Barker VH., mar. Betsey Rug- 
gles ; she was b. in 1794, and d. in Dec, 1833. He d. in 
Dec, 1837. They had children : 

1. Caroline Otis, b. Aug. 23. 1813; d. Dec. 29, 1888. 
She mar.. May 9, 1837, Elijah Barstow.f of Hanover, by 
whom she had two children : 1. Henry Briggs, b. Nov. 23, 
1838, mar., 1st, June 21, 1864, Susan W. Atwood, who was 
b. Oct. 18, 1838, and d. April 2, 1867. He mar., 2ndly, Nov. 
24, 1870, Emily Morse, who was b. Feb. 6, 1839. By her he 



* See Kent Genealogy in chapter on Scituate Harbor, 
t See Barstow Yard. 



296 BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 

has had four chiklren : Albert Henry, b. Sept. 6, 1871 ; d. Sept. 
22, 1873 ; Alton Morrison, b. Jan. 4, 1874; Elmer Williams, 
b. Oct. 9, 187(5 ; Caroline Otis, b. Or-t. 18, 1878. 2. Albert, 
b. July 8, 1840 ; d. April 7, 1863. 

2. George H., b. Sept. 10, 1815, d. March 11, 1881; he 
mar. in Nov. 1840, Nancy L. Stockbridge, by whom he had 
six children. 1. Nancy Maria, b. Nov. 22, 1841, mar. June 
17, 1868, Joseph F. Turner and they have one child, Julia 
Maria, b. Oct. 31, 1869. 2. Caroline Louise, b. Feb. 2, 1844, 
d. April 22, 1849. 3. Henry Joseph, b. Aug. 1, 1846, d. 
April 25, 1849. 4. George Herman, b. Oct. "8, 1848, mar. 
May 23, 1871, Ada A. Brown, and they have six children: 
Henry Joseph, b. Sept. 13, 1874; Arthur Newton, b. March 
10, 1876 ; Everett Lewis, b. May 28, 1877 ; Georgie Herman, 
b. June, 3, 1879 ; Alice Lee, b. Dec. 18, 1880 ; Harlem Page, 
b. Jan. 10, 1883. 5. Caroline Elizabeth, b. March 3, 1856, 
mar. Oct. 5, 1881, George H. Turner, and they have one child, 
Carrie Louisa, b. Oct. 8, 1883. 6. Sarah Frances, b. Aug. 
22, 1858. 

3. Mary, b. Oct. 25, 1817, d. May 30, 1880, unmarried. 

4. Elizabeth R., b. April 25, 1820, d. March 11, 1863. 

5. Deborah Clapp, b. April 6, 1823, mar. May 23, 1842, 
Israel Nash of Boston ; later they removed to "Wellesley 
Hills, Mass. They had seven children. 1. Franklin, b. Feb. 
7, 1843, mar. Dec. 25, 1873, Eunice Ford, by whom he has 
had six children : John Franklin, b. July 17, 1875 ; Emma 
Louisa, b. Dec. 6, 1876 ; Albert Edward, b. Nov. 4, 1879 ; 
Flora, b. Dec. 28, 1880; Alice Gushing, b. Feb. 3, 1884; 
Deborah Briirgs, b. March 14, 1886. ^2. Helen Louisa, b. 
Sept. 9, 1844","d. Dec. 2, 1863. 3. Emma Isabel, b. Jan. 1, 
1847, mar. Sept. 23, 1868, William H. Towne, by whom she 
had two children : Helen Louise,!). Sept. 1, 1869, and Lucy 
Nash, b. May '2^^, 1877. 4. Herbert, b. Dec. 12, 1848, mar. 
June 5, 1879, Mary C, dau. of Wm. II. Baldwin, by whom he 
has had four children : Miriam Baldwin, 1). Oct 22, 1880 ; 
Herbert, b. Dec. 2, 1882; Chauncy Cu-hino-, b. Oct. 17,1884; 
Elizabeth Flint, b. Oct. 3, 1886. 5. Lucy Cushino-, b. May 
31, 1855,mar.Feb. 15, 1883, Frank F., son of Wm. H. Baldwin, 
by whom she has had three children : Roser Nash, b. Jan. 21, 
1884; Margaret Nash, b. Aug. 3, 1885"; Ruth, b. Dec. 31, 

1887. 6. \niarles Edward, b. Jan. 10, 1859, d. IMarch 3, 
1859. 7. Arthur Irvino-, b. Feb. 5, 1864, mar. March 14, 

1888, Mary A. Batchelor of Wellesley Hills. 






Residence of Gushing Otis Briggs, Scituate, and Birthplace of 
iiis Children. 



BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 297 

6. Thomas Wales, b. March 23, 1825. 

7. John Euggles, b. Oct. 14, 1827, d. Sept. 17, 1888. He 
mar. June 3, 1858, Sarah C. Shattuck of Maine, by whom he 
had one child, Sarah Elizabeth, b. Oct. 23, 1863. 

8. Lucy Turner, b. Jan. 23, 1830, d. April 14, 1862. She 
mar. May 31, 1849, Nath. C. Nash, by whom she had one 
child, Nath. C, who was b. April 4, 1862, and mar. June 26, 
1884, Nellie Moproe Fessenden. He is a graduate of Harvarcl 
University and resides in Cambridge. They have one child, 
Nath. C.,'b. June 19, 1885. 

9. Sarah, b. Jan. 5, 1832, d. April 23, 1863. She mar. 
March 15, 1854, Andrew Clark and had two children, George 
Edward, b. Au^. 9, 1859, d. April 28, 1868, and Lucv Briggs, 
b. Sept. 2-2, 1862, mar. June 2, 1889, Edward E. Ells. 

Charles IV., son of Thomas Barker VH., mar. Rhoda Reed, 
by whom he had a large family of children, eight of whom are 
now living. 1. Charles Otis, who now resides in Vallejo, Cal., 
where he is employed in the ship-yards there and on the Mare 
Island navy yard, being the last ship"Cari)enter of the Briggs 
family. His dau. Kate mar. Geo. W. Spencer of San Francisco. 
2. Mary Jane, mar. AVilliam Spear, and resides in Lynn. 3. 

Emeline, mar. LeGro, and resides in Danvers. 4. 

Horace Cushing, who has been twice mar. and resides in Lynn. 
5. Charlotte mar. Henry Prentiss and resides in Danvers. 6. 

Almira, mar. Millett, and resides in Danvers. 7. 

Alfred, resides in Danvers. 8. Henry Thomas, mar, and has 
a family. 9. Lucy Ann, who mar. Nichols Lincoln, and d. 
leaving two children : Emma S. and George H. 

James Briggs, b. 1719, probably the first ship-l)uilder of this 
family, is remembered by Hon. Samuel Adams Turner, who is 
now living at Norvvell in his 98th year. He describes him as 
an honest upright man and a good citizen of the town. He 
says he was noted for being very courageous and when the call 
was made for men to enter the Continental army he was among 
the first to volunteer. It was next to impossible to buy a gun 
at this time. Each citizen furnished his outfit at his own 
expense. James Briggs had no gun but he went oft' with the 
others who answered the call, having only a stick of wood over 
his shoulder to drill with. AVhen asked what he was going to 
do with the stick, he replied "I am going to knock down 



298 



COLUMBIA, BUILT BY JAMES BRIGGS. 



the first British soldier I see and take his gun." He 
came home with a gun. He was noted for being the most 
expert swimmer of his time in Scituate. It is related that 
once when a party of men were pickerel fishing and spear- 
ing eels through the ice on North Kiver, James Brigas fell 
through one of the holes. Instead of fighting under the ice 
against the current to get out of the same hole, he struck out 
for one al)out four rods further down the river and to the sur- 
prise of all came out safely. During the latter part of his 
life he followed the trade of a comb-maker, making the combs 
from cattle's horns, which he sawed into shape, then put 
between two pieces of board, and under a heavy weight, until 
they were straight. The first American vessel that ever circuni- 
navifrated the olobe was built by James Briirgs at Hobart's 
Landing in 1773. This was the ship "COLUMBIA," which 
also explored the Columbia River in Oregon, which was named 
after the vessel. She was the first vessel from this country 
to visit the northwest coast. In 1787, which year she was 
registered at Boston, a silver medal, size 27, was struck off by 
her owners at Boston. The engraving below correctly represents 
one of the original medals. 




In the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is a wonderful feather 
cloak, which was l)rought from the Ha^vaiian Islands 1)y the 
"Columbia," during one of her first voyages. It fell to Benja- 
min Joy, a part owner, as his share of the venture. He has 
descendants in Groton, Mass. There are but three or four of 
these cloaks now inexistance,and their value is enormous. The 
feathers, which are less than an inch long are taken from the 
under part of the wing of the Oo, a bird found only on Hawaii. 
They are sometimes called Mamo feathers and are now worth 
more than $1.00 apiece, only two or four being fjund on each 



FIRST AMERICAN VESSEL TO DOUBLE CAPE HORN. 299' 

bird. A small lei, or necklace, is valued at |500. That every 
resident of Scituate may become familiar with the history of 
one of the most ftmious American ships ever built, and which. 
Scituate men had the honor of building, the author has culled 
from Greenhow's History of California and Oregon, published 
many years ago, and other books bearing on this subject a most 
complete history of the "Columbia." Tradition says the 
" Washington " was built at North River ; but there have been 
no records found to prove at what yard or place she was built. 
Charles T. Torrey, in his book entitled "Home or the Pilgrims' 
Faith Revived,"* writes, as follows: "For more than fifteen 
miles, our southern border rests on the winding banks of a river 
famed for its excellent fisheries and still more for its ship-build- 
ing. Here our carpenters launched the Jirst American vessel 
that ever doubled the stormy Cape Horn and coasted the ivestern 
shores of our continent. She was manned, in part, tradition 
says by our townspeople." 

After the recognition of the Independence of the United 
States the citizens resumed the whale and seal fisheries around 
Cape Horn, which they had carried on before the Revolution, 
and also engaged in direct trade with India and China ; in the 
latter countries, however, they labored under great disad- 
vantages from the inferiority in the value of the articles car- 
ried out in exchange for those brought back by them. Conse- 
quently they were obliged to take out large quantities of specie 
to buy goods in order to obtain full homeward cargoes. With 
a view of obviating this inequality, some merchants of Boston, 
in 1787, formed an association for the purpose of combining 
the fur trade of the North Pacific with the China trade, a& 
attempted by Kin^ Georofe's Sound Company of London. In 
prosecution of Ihis schejne the ship "COLU:\IBIA," of 220 
tons, and the sloop "Washington," of 90 tons, sometimes 
referred to as the " Lady Washington,''^ were fitted out at 
Boston, in the summer of 1787, and laden with blankets, 
knives, iron bars, copper pans and other articles proper for 
the trade with the Indians on the Northwest coast. The 
"Columl)ia" was commanded by John Kendrick, to whom was 
intrusted the direction of the expedition, with Joseph Ingra- 
ham as first mate. The master of the "Washington" was 
Robert Gray. They were provided with sea-letters, pass-ports 



* See Chapter, Miscellaneous Yards, Scituate. 



300 FIKST AMKKICAX VKSjiEL OX THE X. W. COAST. 

from the state of ^Nlassaelmsetts, ami thev reeeived letters from 
the Sjxuiish ^linister PhMiipotentiary in the United States, 
reeonnnending them to tlie attention of the anthorities of his 
nation on the Paeitie eoast. Moreover, they carried out for 
distribution among the natives a number of small copper coins, 
then recently issued by the State of ^Massachusetts, and like- 
"wise medals of copi)er struck expressly for the purpose. The 
vessels sailed together from Boston on the oOth of September, 
1787. They proceecUnl tt) the Cape de Yerde Islands, and 
thence to Falkland Islands, in each of which places they pro- 
cured refreshments, and in Jan., 1788, they doubled Cape 
IK>rn, innnediately after which they were separated during a 
violent gale. The ''Washington," continuing her course through 
the Pacitic, made the Northwest coast in Aug., 1788, near the 
4(?th degree of latitude where she was in danger of destruction, 
having grounded while attempting to enter an opening which 
was most probably the mouth of the river afterwards named 
by Gray, the "Columbia." She was also attacked there by the 
savages, who killed one of her men and wounded the mate, but 
she escaped without fuilher injury, and, on the 17tli of Sep- 
tember, reached Nootka Sound where the foreign vessels 
"Felice" and " Iphigenia " were lying. Meares, in his Jour- 
nal, writes, on Sept. 17, 1788: "A sail was seen in offing. 
A long-boat was innnediately sent to her assistance, which, 
instead of the British vessel we expected, conveyed into the 
sound a Sloop named the ' Washington,' from Boston in New 
England, of about 100 tons burthen. ^Ir. Gray, the master, 
informed us that he had sailed in company with his consort, the 
'Columbia,* a ship of 300 tons, in the month of August. 
1787, being equip})ed under the patronage of Congress to 
examine the coast of America and open up a fur trade between 
New England and here, and jn'ovide funds fi>r their China 
ships. That he expected the ' Columbia ' if she was safe every 
day to join her at Xootka." The "Columbia" did not enter the 
Sound until some days afterward : she had been seriously 
injured in the storm which separated lier from her consort and 
Kendrick was obliged in consequence, in ^lay, 1788, to put 
into the harbor of the Island of Juan Fernandez, where he was 
received with great kindness and aided in retitting his vessel 
by Don Bias Gonzales, the Commandant of the Spanish garri- 
son. Repairs having been completed, the "Columbia," continued 
her voyage and arrived, without further accident, at Nootka 
Sound, which had been selected as the place of rendezvous, in 



SHIP "COLUMBIA" ON THE N. AV. COAST. 301 

October. After her departure from the Ishmd of Juan Fer- 
nandez the Connnandant connnunicated tlie circumstances of 
her putting in there and rctitting by a despatch to his imme- 
diate superior, the Captain General of Chili, who thereupon 
recalled Gonzales from the island, and placed him in arrest, 
addressing at the same time a report on the subject with a 
request for instructions to the Viceroy of Peru. The Viceroy, 
after consulting with his official and legal adviser, replied to 
the Captain General at length on the subject, and expressed his 
surprise and displeasure at the misconduct of the Connnandant 
of Juan Fernandez in allowing the strange ship to leave the 
harbor instead of seizing her and her crew, as he sliould have 
known that, by the Royal Ordinance of Novcml)er, 1692, 
every foreign vessel found in those seas without a license from 
the Court of Spain was to be tried as an enemy, even though 
belonging to a friend or ally of the King, because no other 
nation had, or ought to have, in those seas any territories 
making it necessary for its vessels to pass around Cape Horn 
or through jMagellan's Strait. In so serious a light did the 
Viceroy regard the matter that a shij) was sent from Callao to 
track or intercept the "Columbia." The authorities on the coast 
of Peru and Chili were specially enjoined to be vigilant and in 
case any foreign vessel should appear in the vicinity to seize 
her ; and the whole afiair was made known by a despatch to 
the Viceroy of Mexico, in order that similar precautions might 
be adopted on his part. The unfortunate Conmiandant Gon- 
zales was cashiered for his remissness, and he subsequently 
addressed a petition to the government of the United States 
for its intercession with his Sovereign. Thus were half of the 
Spanish dominions in America thrown into alarm and agitation 
by the appearance of a trading ship from the United States on 
the Pacific. The "Columbia" and "Washington" spent the 
winter in Nootka Sound Avhere the " Columbia " also lay durino- 
the following summer. On the 28th of April, 1789, the ves- 
sel "North West America" left Nootka Sound for a short 
trading trip along the coast. The " Washington " aliout 
the same time departed on a similar expedition. The "Iphiire- 
nia," lying at Friendly Cove, and the "Columbia," at ]Maw- 
hinna, were the only vessels in Nootka Sound, on the 6th of 
May, when the Spanish Commander Martinez arrived there in 
the corvette " Princesa " to take possession of the country for 
his sovereign. Martinez immediately communicated his inten- 
tions to the other vessels and examined their papers ; he 



.302 SHIP "COLUMBIA" AT NOOTKA SOUND. 

apparently met with no opposition, and there was good feeling 
between all, Martinez supplying them with articles they were 
in need of, and accepting bills drawn upon the owners of the 
vessels in payment. At the end of a week another Spanish 
vessel, the "San Carlos," arrived, and, on May 15th, the 
following day, Martinez invited Viana, the Captain, and Doug- 
las, the supercargo of the " Iphigenia " to come on l)()ard his 
ship, when he told them they were prisoners, and their vessel 
was to be seized. " I enquired," says Douglas in his Journal, 
"the cause of his not taking the 'Washington' sloop, as he 
had orders from the King of Spain to take every vessel he met 
on the coast. He gave me no satisfactory answer, luit told me 
my papers were bad ; that they mentioned I was to take all Eng- 
lish, Russian and Spanish vessels that were inferior force to mine, 
and send their crews to jNIacao, there to be tried for their lives 
as pirates." While they Avere removing the charts, papers and 
instruments to the ships of Avar, and preparations were being 
begun for sending her as a prize to San Bias, Martinez altered 
his intention and proposed to release the " Iphigenia " and her 
crew on conditions that her oiBcers would sign a declaration to 
the eft'cct that she had been kindly treated and not interrupted 
.during her stay at Nootka. This being refused, other arrange- 
ments were afterwards made, in consequence of which a declara- 
tion was signed by the officers of the " Iphigenia " and her crew 
were liberated on the 26th of jNIay. Gray, Captain of the 
"Washington," and Ingraham, mate of the " Columbia," were 
both at Nootka during the occurrences of these aflairs. The 
"Argonaut" was seized, also the sloop "Princess Royal" 
and the sch. "North West America," whose officers and 
crew with some of those of the "Argonaut" and "Princess 
Royal" were placed on board the "Columbia" to ])e carried as 
passengers to China, 100 sea-otter skins found in the "Princess 
Royal," being allowed in payment of their wages and transpor- 
tation. The " Columbia" had remained in the Sound ever since 
her first arrival there in Oct., 1788, while the "Washington" 
was engaged in trading along the coast north and south. The 
officers of these vessels were thus witnesses of nearly all the 
occurrences at Nootka during the summer of 1789. That 
Gray and Kendrick profited by the quarrels between the two 
parties is probable, but no evidence has been adduced that they 
on any occasion took unfair adA^antage of either, though it is 
also probable that their feelings ^^^ere rather in favor of the 
Spaniards, by whom they Avere treated with courtesy and kind- 



THE UNITED STATES FLAG WAS CARRIED AROUND 303 

ness, Avhile the British were at that time olnjects of hatred and 
ridicule. Capt. Kendrick often acted as mediator between the 
Spanish and other ships at Nootka, and it was through his 
infiuence that an amicable settlement was reached between 
Martinez and the officers of the "Iphigenia." While trading, in 
June, 1789, Gray in the "Washington" explored the whole east 
coast of Queen Charlotte's Island which had never before l)een 
visited by the people of any civilized nation. He called it Wash- 
ington Island. In a subsequent excursion in Xootka Sound 
Gray entered an opening between the 48th and 49th parallels, 
which had been found by Berkeley in 1787, and was supposed 
to be the mouth of the strait of Juan de Fuca. Through this 
opening Gray sailed, as he informed Vancouver in 1792, fifty 
miles in an east-south-east direction and found the passage five 
leagues wide. Gray then returned to the Pacific, and on his 
way to Nootka Sound he met the " Columbia " which had just 
left the sound with officers and crew of the "North West 
America" on board as passengers for China. It was best 
agreed between the two Captains that Kendrick should take 
command of the sloop and remain on the coast while Gray in 
the "Columbia" should carry to Canton all the furs which had 
been collected by both vessels. This was accordingly done 
and Gray arrived at Macao, in Dec, 1789, with the "North 
West America's" passengers and officers who communicated 
the news of the capture of that vessel and the " Argonaut " and 
" Princess Royal " by the Spaniards. The owners immediately 
determined to apply to the British Government for redress. 
On her way to Canton the " Columbia " touched at the Hawaiian 
Islands for refreshment and provisions. On the 6tli of Decem- 
ber, Gray arrived at Canton where he sold his furs and in 
exchange took a cargo of tea, valued at $00,000, with which 
he entered Boston on the 9th or 10th of Aug., 1790, via Cape 
of Good Hope, having carried the flag of the United States for 
the first time around the world. On going into the Harbor of 
Boston the " Columbia " fired a Federal salute as she passed the 
Castle and another on coming to her moorings. It was doubt- 
ful if her destination was generally known when she went 
away, but the announcement of her achievements in "The Fed- 
eralist " had filled the community with enthusiasm and the 
wharves were crowded with people who gave her a hearty wel- 
come on her return. Kendrick immediately, on parting with 
the "Columbia," proceeded in the "Washington" to the Straits 
of Fuca through which he passed in its whole length. Thus it 



304 THE "WORLD FOR FIRST TIME, BY SHIP "COLUMBIA." 

appears that the passage of the "Washington" through the 
strait, as reported by Meares, took place under Kendrick after 
Gray had quitted the command of that sh)op. Descriptions, 
given liy Kendrick, of what he had seen, correspond exactly 
with the geography of that part of the American coast. 
Under these circumstances and others, Kendrick is to be con- 
sidered as the first person belonging to a civilized nation who 
sailed through the Straits of Fuca after its discovery l)y the 
'' Greek Pilot," in 1592. The ship " Columbia " returned to' Bos- 
ton on the 10th of August, 1790, as has already been mentioned, 
but the cargo of Chinese articles brought l)y her was insuflS- 
cient to cover the expenses of her voyage, and her owners were 
so little satisfied with these results that some of them sold out 
their shares to the others, who, determining to persevere in the 
enterprise, refitted the "Columbia " for a new voyage of the 
same kind. Before her departure, however, the brig "Hope," 
of 70 tons, which had also been equipped for the North Pacific 
trade, sailed from Boston under the command of Joseph Ingra- 
ham, the former mate of the "Columlna," and these vessels were 
followed by the "Hancock." under Ca} t. Crowel ; the "Jeffer- 
son " under Capt. Eoberts, likewise from Boston, and the 
"Margaret," under Capt. Magce, from New York. Capt. 
Kendrick in the " AVashington," A\hich had been altered into a 
brig, arrived at jSIacao while the "Hope" was lying there in 1791. 
He had been engaged since 17(S9 in various speculations, one 
of. which was the collection and transportation to China of the 
odoriferous wood, called sandal, from the tropical islands of the 
Pacific, mainly the Hawaiian Islands, and which was and is in 
great demand throughout the Celestial Empire. Vancouver 
pronounced this scheme chimerical, but experience has proved 
that it was founded on just calculations and has been prosecuted 
with advantage ever since. Another of Kenclrick's specula- 
tions has not hitherto produced any fruit. He purchased, in 
the summer of 1791, from jNIaquinna, Wicanish and other 
chiefs several large tracts of land near Nootka Sound, for which 
he obtained deeds duly marked by those personages and wit- 
nessed by the officers and men of the "Washington." Attempts 
were made by the owners of that vessel to sell these lands at 
London in 1793, Init without success. Applications have since 
been addressed by the legal representatives of the owners and 
of Kendrick to the Government of the United States for a con- 
firmation of the title. The circular addressed by the owners 
for the sale of this land was written in four languages, and w^as 
as follow^s : 



DEATH OF CAPT. JOHN KENDRICK. 305 

"The inhabitants of Europe are informed that in 17S7 Capt. J. 
Kendrick, while prosecuting an advantageous voyage to the natives 
for furs, purcliased of them for the owners a tract of dehghtful 
country comprehending 4 degrees of latitude or 240 miles square, 
and that such as may be inclined to associate for settling a Common- 
wealth on their own code of laws, on a spot of the globe nowhere 
surpassed in delightful and healthy climate and fertile soil, claimed 
by no civilized nation, and purchased under a sacred treaty of peace 
and commerce, and for a valuable consideration of the friendly 
natives may have the best opportunity of trying the result of such 
an enterprise." 

The liind.s were thus sold by the savage chiefs, and there is 
no reason to doubt but they would as readily have conveyed 
the whole of America to any one for the consideration of a 
copper kettle. Greenhow writes "the validity of the acquisi- 
tion will scarcely be recognized by the civilized nation which 
may hereafter hold the sovereignty of the country about Nootka 
Sound." Neither Kendrick nor his vessel ever returned to 
America. As has been previously stated, after purchasing the 
lands, he sailed for the Sandwicli Islands and there engaged in 
a jaew l)raiich of commerce of which he was the originator, 
collecting and transporting to China, sandal wood, but he did 
not live long enough to profit by it. He was killed in 1793 
at Karakakooa Bay, in Hawaii, by a ball accidentally fired from 
a British vessel while saluting him. Another account says 
Capt. Kendrick was killed while exchanging salutes with a 
Spanish vessel at the Sandwich Islands ; the wad from one of 
the Spaniard's guns struck him as he stood on the deck of his 
vessel in his dress coat and cocked hat, as the commander of the 
expedition, and was instantly fatal. Delano in his voyage gives 
probably the only correct account of Captain Kendrick's death, 
and which account is verified by official reports, viz. : 

"Captain John Kendrick, of Boston, the first American com- 
mander that ever visited the northwest coast of America, and who 
opened the channel of commerce to this country, also died at this 
place. [Hawaiian Islands.] His death was occasioned by a salute 
that was fired by an English commander in honour of him. One 
of the guns through accident, was loaded with round and grape 
shot, which killed Capt. Kendrick and two boys, while on his quar- 
ter deck." Capt. Amasa Delano says " I think it no more than jus- 
tice to say something to the memory of this American captain ; any- 
thing written on this able commander would be but superfluous, 
as he is generally known, and so justly celebrated by all the world 
for his extraordinary merit. I was intimately acquainted with him 



306 SECOND VOYAGE OF THE "COLUMBIA"' TO N. W. COAST. 

in Canton Bay, in the year I'J^i, and I also knew his character 
afterwards as long as he lived. He was a man of extraordinary 
good natural abilities, and was noted for his enterprising spirit, his 
good judgment, and superior courage. As a seaman and navigator, 
he had but few equals. He was very benevolent, and possessed a 
heart filled with as tender feelings as any man that I ever was 
acquainted with. He was esteemed and beloved by all who knew 
him in his last absence from the United States. I wish to impress 
it strongly on the minds of every American, not to let his rare 
merits be forgotten, and to cast a veil over his faults, they being but 
few compared with his amiable qualities." 

The " Columbia,'" under Captain Gray, left Boston on the 
28th Sept., 1790, ten days after the departure of the " Hope," 
and, without the occurrence of anything worthy of note on her 
way, she arrived at Clyoquot, near the entrance of the Strait 
of Fuca, on the 5th of June, 1791. She then proceeded to 
the eastern side of Queen Chark)tte's Island and remained in 
that vicinity trading and exploring until September. He 
examined many inlets and passages between the .54th and 5Gth 
parallels one of which, prol)al)ly the one called by Vancouver, 
Portland Canal, he penetrated to the distance of 100 miles 
northeastward without reaching its termination. This inlet he 
supposed to be the Rio de Reyes of Admiral Fonte, and part 
of it was named by Gray, Massacre Cove, in commemoration of 
the murder of Caswell, the second mate, and two seamen of 
the " Columbia " by the natives on the shore on the 22nd of 
August. Gray soon after returned to Clyoquot where the crew 
of the " Columbiti " passed the winter in a fortified habitation 
which they erected on the shores of the Bay and called Fort 
Defiance. They employed themselves building a small vessel, 
and named it the " Adventure," Avhich, in the spring of 
1792, sailed for Queen Charlotte's Island, under command 
of Ilaswell, the first mate of the " Columbia" while Gray went 
on a cruise southward along the coast. Another account says, 
at Fort Defiance Gray and his crew built and launched the 
schooner " Enterprise," the first vessel constructed by Americans 
on the northwest side of the Continent of the United States. 
Whilst preparing for sea they were visited by two of the principal 
chiefs of the surrounding country with a number of followers, 
between whom and a Sandwich Islander on board the " Colum- 
bia " it became evident there was some understanding. Gray 
questioned the Sandwich Islander who at length confessed that 
the Indians had formed a plan for seizing their vessels and mur- 
dering their crew, promising to spare his life and make him a 




Mouth of the Columbia River. 
From an original drawing. 





The Columbia Point, below the Dalles. 



EXPLOllATIONS BY THE "COLUMBIA" ON N. \V. COAST. 307 

chief if he would :iiil tliem by wetting the priming of all the gun.s 
at a particular tune. Thus forewarned the Americans were on 
their guard, and the savages who surrounded the vessel on the 
following day were kept at a distance. Vancouver, in his 
Journal, speaks of sighting the "Columbia," on the 29th of 
Apr., 1792, as follows : "At four o'clock a sail was discovered 
to the Avestward, standing in shore. This was a great novelty, 
not having seen any vessel but our consort during the last 
eight months. She soon hoisted American colors, and tired a 
gun to leeward. At six we spoke to her ^ she proved to be 
the ship 'Columbia,' commanded by Captam Kobert Gray, 
belonoing to Boston, whence she had l)een absent nineteen 
months." After parting with the English ships, Gray sailed 
along the coast of the continent to the south, and on the 7th 
of May, 1792, he saw an entrance which had a very good 
appearance of a harbor in latitude 46 deg., 5<S min. Passing 
through this entrance he found himself in a Bay well shel- 
teredi from the sea by long sand bars and spits, wdiere he 
remained at anchor three days engaged in trading with the 
natives, and he then resumed his voyage, bestowing on the 
place thus discovered the name of Bulfinch's Harbor in 
honor of one of the owners of his ship. This is now known 
as Gray's Harbor. 

At daybreak on the 11th, after leaving Bulfinch's Harbor, 
Gray observed " the entrance of his desired port bearing east- 
south-east, distance six leagues," and running into it with all 
sails set Ijetw^een the breakers, (which Meares and Vancouver 
pronounced impassable) he anchored at one o'clock, in "a large 
river of fresh water," ten miles above its mouth. At this spot 
he remained three days, engaged in trading with the Indians, 
and filling his casks with water, and then sailed up the river 
about twelve or fifteen miles along its northern shore, where, 
finding that he could proceed no farther, from having taken the 
wrong channel, he again came to anchor. During the w^eek 
which followed he made several attem})ts to quit the river, but 
was constantly l)affled, until at length, on the 20th, he crossed 
the bar at the mouth 1)y Ideating over it with a westerly wind 
and regained the Pacific. The opening through Avhich the 
waters of this river are discharged into the ocean was first seen 
in August, 1776, by the Spanish navigator, Heceta. 

The day before leaving the river, or on May 19, 1792, Gray 
gave to it the name of his ship, the " Columbia," ivhich name it still 



308 COLUMBIA IlIVER, OIIEGON, NAMED AFTER THE SHIP. 

hears. The extremity of the sand-bank projecting into the sea 
on the south side of its entrance was called by Gray, Point 
Adams, and he assigned the name of Cape Hancock to the 
opposite prornontory on the north side, being ignorant that 
Meares had already called it Cape Disappointment in token of 
the unsuccessful result of his search for the river. Vancouver 
also asserted that no o])ening, harbor or place of refuge for 
vessels was to be found between Cape Mendocino and the 
Strait of Fuca. 

From the Log-book of the ship " Columbia," the followmg 
is taken : 

" May I ith. 1792, at half past seven we were out clear of the bars 
and directed our course to the southward, along shore. At eight 
P.M. the entrance of Bulfinch Harbor bore North, distance four miles. 
The extremity of the land bore South-southeast half east, and the 
Northern, North-northwest. 

May 1 3th. Many natives alongside ; noon, fresh wind : let go the 
best bower-anchor and veered out on both cables ; sent down the 
main-top-gallant-yard ; filled up all the water casks in the hold. The 
latter part, heavy gales, and rainy, dirty weather. 

May 14. Fresh gales and cloudy ; many natives alongside ; at 
noon, weighed (anchor) and came to sail, standing up the river 
North-east by East ; we found the channel very narrow. At four 
P.M. we had sailed upwards of twelve or fifteen miles when the 
channel was so very narrow it was almost impossible to keep in it, 
having from three to eighteen fathoms of water, sandy bottom. At 
half past four the ship took ground, but she did not stay long before 
she came oft' without any assistance. We backed her oft' stern fore- 
most into three fathoms and let go the small bower and moored ship 
with kedge and hawser. The jolly boat was sent to sound the 
channel out, but found it not navigable any farther up, so, of course, 
we must have taken the wrong channel. So ends, with rainy 
w^eather ; many natives alongside. 

May 15th. Light airs and pleasant weather ; many natives from 
different tribes came alongside. At ten a.m. unmoored and dropped 
down with the tide to a better anchoring place ; smiths and other 
tradesmen constantly employed. In the afternoon Captain Gray and 
Mr. Hoskins, in the jolly-boat, went on shore to take a short view of 
the country. 

May 17th. Fresh winds and squally; many canoes alongside; 
calkers calking the pinnace ; seamen paying the ship's sides with 
tar ; painter painting ship ; smith and carpenters at their depart- 
ments. 



LARGEST VESSEL BUILT OX NORTH RIVER PRIOR TO iSoo. 309 

May 19th. Fresh wind and clear weather. Early a number of 
canoes came alongside ; seamen and tradesmen employed in their 
various de|)artments. Capt. Gray gave this river the name of 
Columbia River, and the North side of the entrance Cape Han- 
cock ; the South, Adam's Point. 

May 20th. At three quarters past two a fresh wind came in from 
seaward ; we immediately came to sail and beat over the bar, havino- 
from five to six fathoms water in the channel. At 5 p.m. we were 
out, clear of all the bars, and in twenty fathoms water. A breeze 
came from the Southward ; we bore away to the Northward ; set all 
sail to tile best advantage. At eight Capt. Hancock bore Southeast, 
distant three leagues; the north extremity of the land in sight bore 
North-by-West. At nine in steering and top-gallant sails. Mid- 
night, light airs." 

From the mouth of the Cohimbia River, Gray sailed to the 
East coast of Queen Chark)tte's Ish^nd, near which his ship 
struck on a rock, and was so niuch injured that she was with 
difficulty kept afloat until she reached Nootka Sound, where the 
damage was repaired. Gray and Ingraham having soon com- 
pleted their business on the Northwest coast, departed severally 
for Canton in Se[)tember, and thence sailed to the United 
States. Gray continued commanding trading vessels from 
Boston until 1809, about which time he died. 

An old ship-carpenter, now living at Marshfield, in his 9 1st year, 
says that beside the " Columbia " James Briggs built the largest 
vessel ever built on J^orth River until later than 1800. The vessel 
was the ship "MASSACHUSETTS," of about 400 tons, built 
between 1780 and 1790. Seth Briqgs also built here early in 
1700.* In 1785 the sch. "INDUSTRY," 61 tons, of Boston, 
was built in Scituate ; and also in 1786, the sch. "DOLPHIN," 
51 tons, of Chatham. James Briggs was part owner of the sch. 
" Speedwell," built by Solomon Bates, in Hanover, in 1787. 
There was built in Scituate, in 1791, the sch. "REVIVAL," 39 
tons, length 39 feet and breadth 15 feet; owned by James 
Briggs, Jr., William Vinal, Jr., Eli Curtis, of Scituate, and 
Lott Vinal, who commanded her. The Dighton branch built at 
Freetown, in 1794, the sl[). "Polly," 49 tons, of Dighton ; 
owners, James Briggs, Dighton, and others. 

John Briggs built in Scituate, in 1785, the sch. "HAR- 
MONY," 51 tons, "deep waist and short quarter-deck," of 



* See Brick-kiln Yard. 



310 JOHN RllIGGS, THOMAS B. BRIGGS, SHIPBUILDERS. 

Colmssct. The owners were Thomas jNIarble of Cohasset, 
mariner, who commanded her, John Brings of Scituate, in the 
county of Plymouth , ship-carpenter, Jerome Lincoln of Cohasset, 
blacksmith, and Jacob Lincoln of Cohasset, mariner. There 
was also built here, in 1792, the ship "AMERICA," 220 tons, 
of Boston ; and in 1793, the ship "BEDFORD," 253 tons, of 
Portsmouth. John Briggs d. in February, 1807, aged 88, and 
is buried in the First Parish Cemetery, Norwell. James and 
John Briggs were succeeded at the shipyard by Thonian Barker 
Briggs, son of James, who was a shipbuilder and a likely man, 
never wealthy but of moderate means. The tirst record we 
have found of any vessel built l)y him is in 1797, sch. "THREE 
FRIENDS," 98 tons, of Boston ; owned by William Vinal, 
Nehemiah Manson and Abraham Lincoln, of Scituate, and after- 
ward by Thomas Bris^gs and others, Boston. There was. built 
here, in 1797, the'sch. "IRIS," 80 tons, of Boston, and 
in 1801, the sch. "LUCY," 72 tons, of Boston; in 1802, 
brig " SALLY," 149 tons : owned by Jesse Dunbar, Silas 
Stetson and Simeon Bates of Scituate and the same year, 1802, 
the sch. " CUSHING," 78 tons ; owner, Lemuel Yinal, Scituate, 
and in 1803, the sch. "PRISCILLA," 61 tons, of Chatham; 
probably the same "Priscilla," that was captured l)y the British 
in 1813 and papers detained. As can be seen by reference to 
the genealogy, Thomas B. Briggs mar. Lucy Otis and had 
among other children a son, Thomas, who was taken prisoner 
by the British while on a privateer, during the War of 1812. 
Thomas Briggs, in a memorandum in his own hand-writing, 
found in his effects, says : 

"We sailed from Boston on the 9th. of May, 1813. Was taken 
prisoner on the 12th. and on the 17th. arrived in Halifax prison, 
remained there until the 21st. of Nov. then sailed for England. 
Arrived at Spithead on the 24th. of Dec. and laid there about two 
weeks, then sailed for Chatham. When I arrived there I was put 
on board the prison ship ^ Samson," where 1 remained about 
two weeks. Then we were put on board of the prison ship 
" Bahama," where we remained until the 25th. of Sept., 1814. Was 
then put on board of the Leyden transport, which sailed for 
Plymouth, from thence were marched to Dartmoor prisons where 
we arrived on the 8th. of Oct. This day the 30th. of Dec. 
the American Ensign was displayed on these prisons on account of 
the news of peace being signed betwixt England and the United 
States of America." 

The above tells the whole story, but copies of his letters are 
here sriven as being of especial interest to those who will read 



THOMAS BRIGGS. 311 

this chapter. One is from Thomas Otis, who g-ave the Second 
Society of Scituate a church oriran, in 1830, and who was 
brother of dishing Otis and was then in England ; the other 
from I.-ucy Briggs, mother of Thomas. The letter from his 
mother is addressed to "Mr. Thomas Briggs, Halifax Prison," 
and is as follows : 

Dear Thomas : "June the 13th, 181 3. 

I am glad to hear no worse fate has befel you. It 
is what I expected. I am sorrj' for your misfortune ; keep up good 
spirits. I hope all these things will be for your good. If you was 
out privateering you might get disabled for life. It is an employ- 
ment that will circumvent the frown of Divine Providence and busi- 
ness is preferable. An exchange may take place sooner than you 
anticipate. I am glad you are so well reconciled to what has befaHen 
you. That all these things are directed by Wisdom superior to man's 
ought to console us vmder all the disagreeables of life. You wrote 
me a letter some years past that in trouble you always rejoiced your- 
self in your God. I wish it now may be your recourse, if so, you 
cannot be unhappy in the most abject situation. I have not any 
thing interesting to communicate. We are all well. 

I remain your Affectionate inother, L. B. 

P.S. Charles is here waiting for more favorable times for the 
Sailor; he has been taken, carried into St. Christopher, came home 
in a vessel from New London." 

The letter from his uncle is addressed to "Mr. Thomas Briggs, 
prison ship, Bahama, Chatham," and is as follows : 

"Dear Thomas : 

Your last letter I received yesterday only — some 
friend must have taken it out of the Dead Letter office in London 
and forwarded it to me. I commiserate your situation although I 
can't approve of the Cause in which you were embarked. There 
is every prospect of a Peace this Summer ; when you will get your 
pardon, if you do not before by exchange of Prisoners. I have 
letters from the U. S. to Jan'y 22d — all friends are well. I shall 
return to America in a few days, you will accept the inclosed five 
Pounds, (£5.) And Believe me your 

Affectionate Uncle, 




^^^^t-tf 






Liverpool, Feb. 19, 1S14. 

P.S. Your first letter has never come to hand." 




312 GUSHING O. & HENRY BRIGGS, SHIPWRIGHTS. 

Next after Thomas Barker Briggs, the shipyard was occupied 
liy his sons, Henry and Cashing Otis Briggs, brothers of 
Thomas. Henry prolxilily learned the art of his father and on 
the Wanton Yard, but Cushing Otis was sent to Pembroke 
where he served his time under Elisha Briggs, at the Brick- 
kihi yard, and l)oarded at his house, now the residence of 
Nathaniel Smith and family, opposite H. H. A. Collamore's, 
which latter residence was the birthplace of Ichabod Thomas. 
It was here that Cushing O. Briggs met Mr. Thomas's daughter, 
whom he afterward married.* 

yp built two vessels on his 

^^ / ' . /^ /^ /yxyi' own account at the Brick- 
C^^Z^AX^^Z^ C/ OJ^y^^^y;^ kilns in Pembroke during 
(y ^'^ the years 1815 and 1816. 

After he mar. he returned to Scitua e and resided in the old 
homestead of James Briggs, then occupied by Lucy and Sally 
Briggs, daughters of James. This house was built by Robert 
Thomas about 1712, and is on the lane or street that leads 
northwest from Hobart's Landing gate ; a picture of the interior 
of one of the rooms of this old house is inserted in this book. 
It is from an original drawing made by Lloyd Briggs about 
1846. It was then called by the household the " school-room." 
After Cushing O. Briggs came nito possession of the place he 
built on a large addition or front. The house is still standing, 
and the farm adjoins that of the Sampsons. 

^ / worked for the Fosters on the 

^^T^C^t-*^*^ />>^-^>^^ Wanton Yard as early as 1810. 
^^ ^ ^r After he mar. he resided in the 

house he probably built and which was the next house south of 
the late Judge Cushing i)lace on the same side of the road. 
Henry and C. O. Briggs were noted shipbuilders, enjoying to a 
high degree the confidence of Boston merchants. Messrs. T. 
B. Wales & Co. were among those who employed them as long 
as they continued building. Cushing survived his brother 
Henry, who died in 1837. " The Messrs. E. &. H. O. Briggs, 
who built at So. Boston, and who turned out so many fine 
specimens of naval architecture, were the sons of C. O. Briggs. 
The honorable reputation of the father fell to the sons and they 
enjoyed the esteem of the Boston merchants. Cushing Otis 



* See Chapter on Brick-kiln Yard. 




■ The School-koom." 



Interior of the Old Briggs Homestead, Scitctate. 
Built A.D. 1712. 



GUSHING O. & HENRY BKIGGS' YAKD. 313 

and Henry Briggs built together for many years and then sepa- 
rately on adjoining yards at Hobart's Landing. Gushing O. 
occupied the old or upper yard, and He ry the one further 
down the river. Israel H. Sherman, now .56 years old, served 
his time on the C. O. & H. Briggs' yard as planker. He 
remembers a story about one of the carpenters, named Ruggles. 
It is said once when he went to New Bedford, he stopped over 
night at a certain house ; he was a very tall man and the room 
which was assigned to him was small and the bed short with its 
foot next the window. In the night he thrust his feet out of the 
open window and in the morning awoke to find a number of 
turkeys roosting on his lower limbs, calling out, "Ruggles, 
Ruggles." 

The first vessel the Briggs Brothers built together was in 
1817, the sch. "CATHARINE," 61 tons, for Capt. Moses 
Rich, of Scituate, for whose wife she was named. John Bates 
was the first mate. The rigging was fitted in the yard in front 
of the late Dr. Stockbridge's dwelling, since occupied by Rev. 
Pelham Williams, that part which is now a grove near "the 
wide spreading pond " made famous by Samuel Woodworth in 
his poem, " The Old Oaken Bucket." When she was launched, 
Tom Briggs, brother of Cushing and Henry sat on the cap of 
the bowsprit and christened her by breaking a bottle of wine 
over her bow. The "Catharine" had one deck, two masts, 
length 62 feet, breadth 17 feet. John Bates, Samuel Jacobs, 
Jr., Anthony Chubbuck, Nath. Cushing and Cushing O. Briggs 
of Scituate, were interested in her. The following are some of 
the men who w^orked on the Briggs Yard at different periods ; 
Amos F. Damon, now living at Little's Bridge, who has 
directed the author to many channels of information ; Nath. 
and Samuel Damon, Abijah Holland, David, Charles and Otis 
Briggs, Capt. Thomas Rogers, Thomas Holmes, Harvey Hall, 
Chandler Clapp, Allen Randall, Joseph Eames, William Turner, 
Barker and Samuel Turner, Abijah Rogers, William Studley, 
Sanmel O. Ruggles, Josiah Stoddard, Nathan Rogers, Theodore 
Turner, Elisha Delano, Luther Magoun, Benjamin Nichols. 
George Curtis furnished anchors. Ira Barker and Consider 
Merritt did iron work. Abel Kingman and Briags Magoun, 
Nath. AVhiting, Joshua Curtis and George Leonard furnished 
timber. Amiel Curtis furnished elm timber at $5.00 per ton, 
white oak at $6.00 per ton; Samuel ^Mitchell, jNIichael Ford, 
Capt. Nath. Cushing, Shadrach, Barnabas, Sylvester and Wil- 
liam Briggs, Alb^ert Tilden, John Foster and John James also 



314 VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & H. BRIGGS. 

worked on tlie yard. AVaires paid at that time were from 75 
cents to $1.25 per day. Wales Tilden also worked on the 
Briggs yard and Foster's yard. Uncle Charles Briggs used to 
tell a story a1)oiit Colonel Curtis, who went to Maine in the 
days of lumber speculation as agent for a company of men. 
He boarded with a widow 1)y the name of Wass. The neigh- 
bors at his home used to tease his wife telling her, until she 
was nearly insane, that her husband, the Colonel, Avas going to 
marry the widow Wass. 

Cushing 0. ^n(/(7s Avas master carpenter, in 1818, of the sch. 
"MARY ANN," 76 tons of Boston; her length Avas m feet, 
breadth 18 feet, depth 7 feet. She was owned by Thomas B. 
Wales and Nathaniel H. Emmons of Boston, C. O. Briggs of 
Scituate, William Weeks of Tisbury, and Edmund Bridge of 
Wilminirton, North Carolina. Henry Briggs was master car- 
penter in 1820 of the brig " WAVE," 124 tons, of Boston, 
single deck, two masts, length 75 feet, breadth 20 feet, depth 
9 feet. She had a billet figure-head and was owned by Thomas B. 
Wales and Nathaniel H. Emmons, Boston, Henry Briggs, 
Scituate, and Freeman Norton, Tisbury. The "Wave " Avas at 
Bilboa in February, 1825, and her expenses while lying there 
were $400. In 1826 she made a Aoyage from Amsterdam Avith 
50 casks and 1060 jugs of oil, and 75r)0 lumps of clay, 10 
packages of duck, 20 pipes of gin, and other merchandise. In 
1827 she made a voyage to Eochelle and back Avith cargoes of 
rough pipes, barrels, hogsheads, ashes, brandy, etc. In 1828 
Boston to Rochelle, New York, and ]\Iobile to Rochelle,and in 
1831 from Trinidad with sugar, then to Bremen Avith sugar, 
wood, indigo, raisins, lumber and ho|)s. She Avas either sold 
or lost soon after this. The lirig " A\'ave " Avas a A'ery success- 
ful craft and made for her owners $15000 on one A'oyage to 
France. Mr. Wales was a very decided man, and wanted 
things his own Avay. When the " Wave " was building, he 
requested the builders to have the treenails " Avell drove." 
When she Avas nearly built he came down from Boston to look 
at her. Treenails or "trunnells," as they Avere often called, 
have little punches driven into their centres after they are in 
place to spread and hold them. Taking a handful of those 
punches, Mr. Wales Avent to Henry Briggs and said, " Didn't I 
request you to have the treenails well drove ? " Mr. 
Briggs ansAvered, "Yes, sir, and they are." "Well," said ■Nlr. 
Wales, "and here you are clriAdno^ in these d d little plugs." 



VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & H. BRIGGS. 315 

It showed how much he knew about treenails ; but he did know 
a good vessel when he saw one. 

Henry Briggs was master carpenter in 1820 of the briir 
"OAK," loOlons, of Boston; her length was 79 feet, breadth 
20 feet, depth 10 feet ; owners, Thomas B. Wales and Nathan- 
iel H. Emmons, Boston, Henry Briggs, Scituate. The follow- 
ing are some of the voyages made by the " Oak" while she was 
owned by T. B. Wales & Co : 1826, from 8t. Petersburg with 
hemp and sundiy merchandise. 1828, Philadelphia to Rochelle 
with staves, hides, bark, etc. ; also voyage to Amsterdam, with 
9 hogsheads, 44 tierces of sugar, also oil, etc. 1832, New 
Bedford to Haml)urg with oil. 1833, New Bedford to Bremen 
with oil. 1834, Qiarleston to Antwerp and to Amsterdam. 
1835, St. lago to Trieste with sugar, coflee, etc. In 1836, she 
made three voyages, Charleston to Amsterdam with cotton and 
rice, Richmond to Amsterdam, and from Amsterdam with gin, 
oil, madder, beans, wine, seed, barketts, tenzel, nutmegs, 
sappan wood, etc. 1837, Richmond to Rochelle, and Charles- 
ton to Havre. 1838, to Rochelle, from Rochelle with brandy, 
vinegar and ochre, Charleston to Amsterdam, and from Rochelle 
again. 1839, to Havana with gin; cargo from Havana to 
Co we, etc. ; Charleston to Havre, and from Savannah to Liver- 
pool. She sailed from Liverpool, Apr. 24, arriving in Boston 
May 25th. 1840, Matanza.s for Cowe and a market ; Boston to 
Rochelle. 1841, from Matanzas to Rotterdam. 1842, from 
Rio de Janeiro to Charleston ; from Charleston to Amsterdam. 
1843, from New Orleans to Hamburg; from Matanzas to 
Trieste; and New Orleans to Boston with pork, ham, lard, 
cotton, etc. Henry Briggs built vessels that curved from bow 
to stern, being very low at the centre with bow and stern high,* 
and as the style changed he asked Mr. Wales if he would not 
have the bow and stern dropped a little to make a .straio-hter 
vessel. Mr. Wales replied, "If you drop the bow and stern, 
you drop me ;" but afterward, in building the " Oak," he had 
her bow and stern dropped. 

Henry Briggs was master carpenter, in 1822, of the brio- 
"LAPWING," 176 tons, of Boston; length 84 feet, breadth 
22 feet, depth 10 feet. She was owned by Henry Hovey, 
Francis Fisher, Francis Stanton, Ezra Hyde, Boston, Jesse 



* It was the custom until 1815 and later to build vessels with crooked gunwales and 

rn hiVh. 



Stem high. 



316 VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & 11. BRIGGS. 

Dunbar, Jr., Scituate, Orrice King of Brewster, Gustavus 
Locke and James Sizor, Richmond, Va. This vessel Avas sold 
at Canton, China in 1S2(). C. O. & H. Briggs built, in 1823, 
the brig "OCEAN," 173 tons of Boston: owners were Nathan- 
iel H. Emmons and Thomas B, "Wales, of Boston, Cushing O. 
and Henry Briggs, Scituate. In 1826 the brig " Ocean " made 
a voyage to Rochelle, returning with lirandy, wine and mer- 
chandise ; and in 1<S28 from Charleston to Bremen w4th rice. 
She was later used as a Boston and Baltimore packet, and in 
1852 was in the North Atlantic, whaling. In 1856 she was 
changed to a bark ; she was not very successful, and in 1864 was 
sold to David C. Os])orn, Sag Harbor. In 1867, she is said to have 
been lost in the South Atlantic, though the report gives the loss 
of a much larger vessel. Henry Briggs, in company with his 
brother Cushing O. was master carpenter, in 1824, of the brig 
"BILLOW," 160 tons, of Boston ; owners, Nathaniel H. Emmons, 
and Thomas B. Wales, Boston. Her length was 80 feet, breadth 
21 feet, depth 10 feet. The following are her voyages for nearly 
fifteen years : from 1827 to 1830, she sailed between Rochelle, 
Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, taking from the home 
ports, oak, timber, staves, rice, cotton, etc., and bringing back 
dry goods, liquors, etc. In 1830, she went to Palermo Avith 
staves. 1831, St. lago to Trieste. In 1832, she made three 
voyages, Mobile to ]\Iatanzas with 74,500 feet of board, plank 
and scantling and back with 29,700 gallons of molasses, and 
60 boxes of sugar, and to Rochelle and back. In 1833, from 
Antwerp to Rochelle and back, and to Rochelle and return 
again. 1834, Norfolk to Rochelle Avith staves, and back to 
Boston W'ith 48 pipes, 265 hogsheads, 267 barrels of brandy, 
and 260 baskets of champaijne. 1836, to Rochelle and back. 

1837, Norfolk to Rochelle. 1837, Norfolk to Rochelle. 

1838, Rochelle and Bremen, and to Amsterdam; cargo, 
tobacco, mahogany, etc. 1839, Charleston to Amster- 
dam. In 1840, four voyages : Rochelle to Ncav York Avith 
brandy, back again with Hour, staA^es, etc. ; returned again 
Avith brandy and from Norfolk to Rochelle Avith staves, etc. 
At Avhat port the "BilloAv" ended her days is not known, but 
she proved to be a very successful vessel for her first owners 
and made some remarkal)ly quick passages. It Avill be seen 
that the Briggses Iniilt a vessel for T. B. Wales & Co. about 
€\'ery two years and usually built for other firms in Boston or 
Scituate Harl^or the alternate years. 

Henry Briggs, in company AA'ith his brother, was master 




,_, /l>^^y,_o 



VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & H. BKIGGS. 317 

carpenter in 1825 of the sch. ""ADAMS," 111 tons, owned by- 
Nathaniel H. Emmons and Thomas B. Wales, Boston. Capt. 
Henry Vinal, of Scituate, says that about 1825, C. O. Brings 
built the sch. "ONTARIO," for him. The Brio-crs brothers 
built, in 1826, the brig "OREGON," 200 ton.s^^of Boston, 
length 89 feet, breadth 22 feet, depth 11 feet. Her owners 
were Henry Hovey of Boston, Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., of 
Scituate. The next year they built another vessel for T. B. 
Wales & Co. 1827, the brig " BOSTON," 242 tons, of Boston. 
She was a two decker, with two masts and a billet head, 95 feet 
long by 22 feet, by 11 feet, and owned by Nathaniel H. Emmons 
and Thomas B. Wales of Boston. There was a " Boston " built 
at the Wanton Yard, which has been incorrectly stated as being 
this vessel. The "Boston" made many voyages similar to the 
"Billow," the "Wave," etc. In company with Gushing O., 
Henry Briags was master carpenter, in 1828, of the brig 
"IVANHOE," 192 tons, of Boston ; owned by Joshua Blake, 
Francis Stanton and George Hallett of Boston. For a time in 
Briggs's Yard they missed large amounts of the chips, which 
were excellent for kindlings. One night they employed an old 
captain to watch the yard as they mistrusted a man who lived 
down the river. After waiting for several hours the suspected 
man came rowing up the river and soon began to load his boat 
with chips. The captain who was on the watch called out, "I 
am here." The man replied, " So am I," but it frightened him 
so, that he did not come again. 

Gushing O. & Henry Briggs built of oak, in 1829, the brig 
"GRONSTADT," copper and iron fastened, 273 torn register : 
length 100 feet, breadth 24 feet, depth 12 feet, with two decks 
and two masts and full model. Her owners were Nathaniel H. 
Emmons, Thomas B. Wales, Samuel Quincy and Moses 
Wheeler of Boston. There is a water-color painting of the brig 
"Gronstadt," hanging in the office of Thomas B. Wales & Co., 
40 Water street, Boston, representing her ashore on Falsterbo 
Reef, off Sweden, Aug. 12, 1840, then under the command of 
Capt, Hatch, from which painting the following cut is engraved. 



318 



BKIG CKONSTADT. 




The " Cronstadt " avus engaged chiefly in the Eussian trade. 
The following are some of the voyages made by her while she 
was owned by Thomas B. Wales & Son. In 1831 , she made a 
voyage to Matanzas and Russia with a cargo of coftee and sugar. 
In 1832 she made three voyages : New Orleans to Boston with 
cotton ; Matanzas to St. Petersl)urg with 186(3 l)oxes of white 
sugar, 15 tons of logwood, 419 hogsheads of tobacco, 109 boxes 
of sugar; and from Alexandria to Amsterdam. 1834, two 
voyages : Cuba to St. Petersburg, with sugar ; Charleston to 
Marseilles with cotton. 1835, Matanzas to St. Petersburg. 

1836, Charleston to Rotterdam and Matanzas to St. Petersl^urg. 

1837, three voyages : two from Rio de Janeiro to Hamburg, 
one with $10,000 worth of coffee ; the other voyage, cofl'ee 
valued at £1962, 13s, and from Charleston to Amsterdam. 
1836, Matanzas to St. Petersburg. 1839, Mobile to Amster- 
dam, and Charleston to Amsterdam. 1840, Matanzas to St. 
Petersburg, and from then until 1845 she made seven voyages 
between the ports of Matanzas, St. Petersburg, Antwerp and 
Charleston wdth sugar, rice, and cotton. In 1845, she also 
made a voyage from Matanzas to London. 1846, from New 
Orleans to Liverpool with cotton, wheat and staves ; and from 
New York to Glasgow with flour and oil. 1847, she made a 
voyage from Havana to St. Petersburg with oil. Of course 
she always made her home port, Boston, at the end of nearly 
all of the above voyages. In 1861-63 she was owned by C. H. 



s^ td 



3- O 



3 H 



CO 

P o 



w 




f:' fir 



VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & H. BKIGOS. 319 

Hogers at Gloucester, and was uiidei Captains Higgin.s and 
Herrick respectively. She was soon afterward sold to persons 
in South America, and in 1865, was owned by Capt. Lewin at 
Montevideo. 

In 1829, the sch. "BILLOW," 83 tons, of Scituate, 65 feet 
long, 18 feet broad, and 8 feet deep, was built by C. O. and H. 
Briggs, and owned by Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., Lemuel 
Webb, her captain, James S. and Shadrach Briggs. The 
" Billow " was built square stern and had a billet figure head. 
C. O. & H. Briggs still owned in the "Billow" in" 1836. In 
1837, William 1\ Briggs bought into her, and al^out 1838, 
Charles C. Briggs took his father's interest. In 1844, the 
Briggses still had an interest in her. She was always used coast- 
ing in the winter and mackerel fishing in the summer. The 
"Billow" was built mainly for Capt. Lemuel Webb, who went 
master of her for many years and afterwards took a larger 
vessel. The last voyage made by the "Billow" was under 
Capt. Eaton Vinal, to the West Indies. While there the crew 
contracted fever, of which Capt. Vmal died on shore, and his 
mate j\Ir. Jacobs died the second day out. She was then in 
charge of two men, one of whom Abijah Otis, of East Stough- 
ton, is now living. They drifted about for some days, when 
they were obliged to leave her, and took to their boats and 
Avent ashore on one of the islands. The American Consul put 
them in prison for several months, thinking that they were 
pirates or had mutinied on board, and they were not released 
until they could get word from Boston, to prove their state- 
ments were true. The vessel drifted ashore and was broken 
up by wreckers. 

About 1830, or a little later, Cushing O. and Henry Briggs 
dissolved partnership and built on yai'ds adjoining, as previously 
stated. The following is a copy of an old letter : 

Scituate, Nov. 8th, 1S30. 
Messrs. Benjamin Rich & Son, 

Gents : 

We have got our brig 
down the river and have been waiting five days for a wind to go out. 
The season is so far advanced we think it more prudent to get her 
insured if we could get it done for $20.00. If you could get five 
thousand insured on the vessel for sixteen or twenty dollars, we 
should like to have it done. If not, we would like to know the 




320 VESSELS BUILT BY C. O. & H. BRIGGS. 

lowest it could be clone for. You may send us an answer by the 
bearer of tliis. The vessel has two masts, three sads, chain, cable 
and anchor. 

Yours, etc., 

This letter probably referred to the brig; of which Gushing 
O. Briggs was master carpenter in 1830, the brig "HAMIL- 
TON," 1<)4 tons, Elislia Cushman, master; owned by John 
M. Pearson, lienjamin Humphrey and Robert G. Shaw, Bos- 
ton. Henry Briijgs was master carpenter in 1831 of the bark 
"AVON," 299 tons of Boston. Her length was 108 feet, 
breadth 24 feet, depth 12 feet; owned by Nathaniel H. 
Emmons, Tliomas B. Wales, Sr. and Jr., Samuel (^uincy and 
Moses Wheeler of Boston. John Foster in a letter, descrip- 
tive of an exciting meeting of the Franklm Association, dated 
at South Scituate January 15, 1831, and addressed to "Hon. 
Cushing Otis, jNI.D., Boston," adds the following postscrij)t : 
"One thing I have omitted which is of more consequence than 
anything 1 have stated. ]Mr. (Wishing O. Briggs met with a 
painful accident a few days since in the yard ; falling on a plank 
he struck a large nail in his knee, or rather just below it, and 
he has not been able to move it since. I think. Dr., he needs 
your advice and help. Dr. James attends him ; he is well 
otherwise but 1 understand it pains him very nuich. Yr. J, 
F., Jr." Mr. Briggs was contined some time, but later was 
able to resume work at the yard. Barnabas W. Briggs,* who 
has given me nnich information, writes, "Nov. 28, 1831, is the 
first date I have in an old account book for work for Cushing* 
O. and Henry Brigijs, although I worked for them before. I 
also find dates of Sept. 13, "1832, Dec. 28th, 1835, at which 
time I was workins: for them." Henry Briggs was master car- 
penter, in 1833, of the l)rig "OAK," 208 tons of Boston; 
owned by Nathaniel H. Ennnons, Thomas B. Wales, Sr. and 
Jr., Samuel Quincy and Ebenezer Sears of Boston. In 1834 
the sch. " COLUMBIA," 75 tons of Scituate, length 65 feet, 
breadth 18 feet, depth 7 feet, was built by Gushing O. Briggs, 
and owned by John Beal, Peleg Jenkins, William Vinal, Henry 



* See Scituate Harbor Yards. 



GUSHING O. BRIGGS & SONS. 321 

Yinal, Albert Clapp, Henry Bowers and Cashing O. Bviggs. 
In 1836 the Briggses still owned in her and she was under 
Capt. Peleg H. Collier coasting and mackerel fishing. Cushing 
O. Briggs was master carpenter in 1835 of the brig " COLUM- 
BIA," 131 tons of Boston ; owned by Ephraim Loml)ard and 
Amme C. Lombard of Boston and William and William H. 
Fowle of Alexandria, Ya. Henry Briggs was master carpen- 
ter, in 1836, of the bark "VERONA," ^J<9 tons, of Boston. 
She had two decks and three masts. Her length was 102 feet, 
breadth 22 feet, depth 11 feet, and owned by Nathaniel H. 
Emmons, Thomas B. Wales, Sr. and Jr., Joseph Perkins 
and Samuel Quincy of Boston. This was a very good sized 
vessel for this vard. At one of the launchings on the Briggs 
Yard jNlichael Ford, Jr. says that he remembers the vessel 
going off all right on only one bilgeway. She went as straight 
as with two. Of course it was by accident. Cushing O. 
Briggs was master carpenter, in 1836, of the brig "ANGEL," 
157 tons, of Boston ; owners Jeremiah B. Thompson, Charles 
B. Fessenden and Benjamin Hard Skinner of Boston. This 
proved to be a very unsuccessful vessel for her builder, Cush- 
ing O. Briggs, who, paying his men, delivered her to Thomp- 
son & Fessenden who failed before they paid him for her. The 
loss fell heavily on Mr. Briggs, who soon after turned his ship- 
buildino; business over to his two eldest sons, Charles C. and 
William T. Briggs, keeping but a small interest in the firm 
himself. The last vessel built on the Henry Briggs yard was 
the brig " STAR," which was begun by him, but he died while 
she was building. Elijah Barstow, his son-in-law, was at his 
death bed and almost the last thing Mr. Briggs said was, 
"Elijah, you must help George finish that vessel." George 
Briaiis was Henry's son, and, although Mr. Barstow was build- 
ing a vessel at the same time in Hanover, he went to the Henry 
Briggs Yard nearly every day and assisted George. The ves- 
sel was launched in the spring of 1838. 

William T. Briggs was master carpenter in 1838 of the 
bark "EMMA ISADORA," 213 tons of Boston, Edward 
Fletcher, master, and owned by Henry W. Fletcher, of Bos- 
ton. In 1848 she was owned by Joseph Swift of Gloucester, 
and in 1849 by Sanford Henry of Chelsea. This vessel was 
engaged originally in the Smyrna trade, and was noted for her 
fine sailing qualities and for the number of missionaries and 
the quantity of New England rum she carried to Smyrna. 




322 GUSHING O. BRIGGS & SONS. 

/i /y^ /^7^ • ^^^ William T. 

/^ y —r^ iC'y /J _y Briijo^s were master 

f<uay?--U^ ^ UU^--^-y' carpenters, in 1840, 

^>(y of the brig " SENA- 

TOR," 193 tons of Boston, Bangs Pepper, jNIaster. She was 
owned by him and Elkanah Bangs of Boston, Jeremiah Mayo, 
Theodore Berry, Joseph Sampson and Joseph Crocker of 
Brewster and Charles C. and AVllliam T. Briggs of Scituate. 
Her builders sold her March 20, 1840, for $830o'. Some of the 
men who worked on her were Otis Briggs, Moses Rogers, 
James N. Sparell, Beia Lewis, Paul Litchtield, Harvey Litch- 
field, Ebed Hersey, Benjamin R. Jacobs, Samuel Hatch, 
Joseph Northe}', Waterman Bailey and many others. G. and 
S. Manly and Eliphalet Kingman furnished timber at $12 per 
M. Thomas Simmons and Experience Curtis also furnished 
timber. The " Senator " was finally sold at Rio de Janeiro, 
South America. Charles. C. and WiUiam T. Briqqs l)uilt, in 
1840, the brig " MICHIGAN," 130 tons of ScituatV. She was 
engaged in the foreign trade and owned by Perry P. Coleman, 
ElTjah Jenkins, Jr., Seth Webb, Francis Thomas, Charles C. 
and William T. Briggs of Scituate. Alexander Anderson 
worked painting on the Briggs yard in 1840. 

Cushing 0. Briggs & Sons built, in 1841, the bark "SUSAN 
JANE," 274 tons, one deck and three masts ; owned by 
Edward Fletcher, her master, and Henry W. Fletcher, Boston. 
This was the last vessel built on this yard. The " Susan Jane " 
was used in the Mediterranean trade. Capt. Edwin Fletcher 
was in command of her on a voyage from Boston to the Medi- 
terranean, during which voyage she experienced a severe storm, 
and while running before the gale one mornmg a heavy sea 
washed the man at the wheel overlioard, but he was got on 
board aoain. In the evening of the same day in the second 
"doo- watch," while Capt. Fletclier and the mate were on the 
quarter deck they, together with the man at the Avheel were 
w^ashed overboard and lost. This was about 1843. Being 
without any one competent to navigate her, she was put into 
Gibraltar. In 1848 she was in Malta dismasted, and a])out 1859 
she was off Sebastopol, one of the wrecking expedition raising 
guns, etc., from the Russian men of war which had been sunk 
before that city by the Russians to prevent them from fiilling 
into the hands of the enemy. John H. B. Lang, of Boston, 
who owned the " Susan Jane," at one time, says she was a " saucy 





^t^fiyr 



-A^ "t^ 




J 



GUSHING O. BRIGGS & SONS. 323 

little craft and ^vould sail like the wind." He sold her to the 
Fayal trade. After she returned from Sebastopol she sailed 
between New Bedford and Fayal. She was built of oak, 
was copper and iron fastened, had a deck ca])in, was 90 feet 
long, 24 feet In-oad, and drew 11 feet. In 1863 she was owned by 
W. H. Topham and others, New Bedford. The same year she 
was rebuilt and yeUow metalled. In 1865 she was owned by 
John Ferris of St. John, N. B., and under Capt. Huzford. In 
1874 she was still owned in St. John, N. B., and sailing under 
the British flag, Capt. Hucksford, master. 

Of the sons of Gushing Otis Briggs, Charles C, who died 
April 11, 1843, of consumption, was a noble young man of 
great promise and exemplary character, bearing his long illness 
with courage and resignation. When but eleven years of age 
he received the following recognition from his teacher : 

REWARD. 

This certifies that Master Charles Briggs has committed to mem- 
ory Cumming's Modern and Ancient Geography once, and given 
correct answers to 665 questions, relating to places &c. on the maps. 
Woodbridge's Geography nearly once. 40 columns of Dictionary. 
34 verses in the New Testament. 36 pages of definitions. Multi- 
plication Table, and 10 pieces on diflerent subjects. 

By obedience and good behaviour he has secured the esteem of 
his Instructress. {Signed) T.F.FOSTER, 

1S24. 

William T., as stated elsewhere, together with his brother 
Charles, succeeded their father at the yard. William's common 
school education was supplemented by brief academic courses 
at Hanover and Weymouth. Through the kindness of an 
honored uncle he,was led to leave the ship-yard in 1841-2, and 
enter Oneida Institute, at Whitesboro', N. Y., from which 
college he graduated in 1845. He then entered Andover 
Seminary, and while there received a call to the Congrega- 
tional Church at North Andover where he was ordained and 
settled in 1846. Later he accepted a call to Princeton where 
he was installed in 1855, resignino- in 1863 to take charge of 
the Educational Department at Newbern, in the military dis- 
trict of North Carolina, which position he held until the close 
of the war. He Av^as installed in the Congregational Church in 
East Douglas, in 1866, resigning in 1887 after a pastorate of 
uninterru})ted harmony of twenty-one years. By vote of the 
said church, he is still "Pastor Emeritus." His services are 



324 GUSHING O. BRIGGS' SONS. 

sought by several societies, but so far he has held to his reso- 
lution to spend his declining years in rest and quiet, free from 
labor, enjoying the competence it has been his fortune to 
accumulate. 

James Edwin and Harrison O. learned the art of shipbuild- 
ing at their father's yard on North Kiver, and when Edwin (as 
he was usually called) had attained his majority, the Ixilance 
of Harrison's time was given him by his father, and together 
they went to Boston and engaged as journej men shipbuilders. 
Subsequently they built in company with Capt. Noah Brooks 
at his yard at the foot of F. street. In 1847 this partnership 
was dissolved and E. & H. O. Briggs removed to South Bos- 
ton Point, near the rolling mills, where they built in company 
until after the war, employing mostly men from their native 
town whose skill in building vessels on the banks of the North 
River was recognized by the Messrs. Briggs, who built some of 
the fastest and most famous clipper ships that have ever been 
launched in the United States. The following are some of the 
ships built by them : the "Newton," 450 tons burthen ; "Reli- 
ance," 450 tons ; " Oxenbridge," 580 tons ; "Mary Glover," 650 
tons; "Berkshire," 650 tons; "Southern Cross," 1,000 tons; 
"Northern Light," 1,050 tons, which was built for Capt. James 
Huckins. She made the quickest passage ever made between 
Boston and San Francisco around Cape Horn. (See report 
Secretary of Board of Trade for 1882.) Frank H., son of H. 
O. Briggs, owns a fine painting of the "Northern Lioht." E. 
& H. O. Brigss also built the " Cape Cod," 850 tons ;'" Winded 
Arrow," 1,150 tons; "Meteor," 1,150 tons; "Golden Light," 
1,150 tons, which was struck by lightning when only a few days 
out on her first voyage, and burned to the water's edge ; the "John 
Land," 1,150 tons : "Bonita," 1,150 tons ; "Cyclone," 1,150 tons ; 
"Boston Liffht," 1,180 tons ; "Starlight," 1,180 tons ; "Grace Dar- 
ling," 1,240 tons ; " Saracen," l,3d0 tons; " Cossack," 600 tons ; 
"Vitula," 1,185 tons; "Mamaluke" 1,300 tons; "Fair Wind," 
1,300 tons; "Alarm," 1,200 tons; "Joseph Peabody," 1,200 
tons ; "Asa Eldridge," 1,300 tons ; "Dreadnaught," "Colorado," 
and many others. About 1865 the Briggs Bros, dissolved 
partnership and went out of business, each having secured a 
competence. J. Edwin Briggs never engaged in active busi- 
ness again. Harrison O. Briggs was elected a member of the 
Board of Aldermen in 1860, and was chairman of the commit- 
tee that received and entertained the Prince of Wales on 
behalf of the City of Boston. Soon after he gave up ship^ 



GUSHING O. BEIGGS' SONS. 325 

Tjuilding he was appointed manager of the Bristol line of 
steamers, which position he held until in connection with his 
brother, Lloyd Briggs, he opened a bankers' and In'okers' 
office at 60 State street, Boston. At the time of his death he 
was president of the National Bank of the Republic, of Boston. 

Lloyd Briggs worked on the shipyard until 1846, when he 
went to Boston, and in 1847 entered the machine shop of Jabez 
Coney, who gave employment to about two hundred men, 
twenty being apprentices, and served his time as machinist. 
He was on the Portsmouth Navy Yard about a year and a half, 
and assisted in "setting up" the engines in the U. S. S. " Sara- 
nac." This vessel was afterward lost off California. He also 
assisted in "setting up" the engines for the floating dry dock 
at that yard. He was afterward on the Charlestown Navy 
Yard eno;ao;ed in the same kind of work. In 1853 he left the 
machine shop and went into the Broadway National Bank, then 
located on Broadway, South Boston, and in 1858 into the 
National Bank of the Republic, where he was teller during the 
War of the Rebellion, and during which time the work was so 
heavy that, in 1868, on account of his failing health, he removed 
to Hanson, giving up all business for three years. In 1870 he 
built his present residence in Hanover Four Corners, Mass. 
In 1872-3 he entered into the stock-brokerage Imsiness with 
his brother Harrison O., also doing the notary work for several 
banks. He is now notary for twenty-three banks, three Trust 
Companies and numerous bankers, his son L. Vernon, being 
associated with him. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



SCITUATE MISCELLANEOUS YARDS AND BUILDERS 

I 694-1 868. 



ASA ROGERS, ELISHA MERRITT, SAMUEL TURNER, JR., WILLIAM 
BROOKS, SAMUEL ROGERS, LEONARD LITCHFIELD, FOSTER 
LITCHFIELD, CUMMINGS LITCHFIELD. 



QCITUATE is indebted to the substantial character of 
*^ some of her first founders, many of whom came from Kent, 
for so soon taking the lead in rates and levies of men, which 
superiority it maintained until the time of the latest annals of 
the colony. Samuel Deane so ably wrote the history and 
genealogies of her early inhabitants that to-day in many fam- 
ilies his book is prized more than any other in their possession. 
He touched on so many subjects that it was not possible for 
him to do each justice. This volume is devoted to but one 
suliject, but every subject referred to by Deane in his history, 
if properly written up before it is too late, would fill a 
volume as large as this. Let us hope that this work will 
inspire some one to .study other subjects in the town's history, 
and publish the result of his la])ors. Rev. Samuel Deane 
gave instruction to many of Scituate's young men, for which 
he received fifty cents per week. He was quite a poet, as well 
as a teacher, and wrote many hymns for the churches. The 
following poem is from his pen : 

NAPOLEON. 

(Napoleon, in Italy, wept at the sight of a faithful dog on the battlefield, moaning by the 
side of his lifeless master. See Las. Cases, Vol. 1. Part II.) 

Strange compound of passion, and why didst thou weep, 

At the faith of a brute to his master, though dead ? 
Was it pity thatmov'd thee, for thousands that sleep, 

Where thy cruel ambition has made their last bed ? 



REV. SAMUEL DEANE. 327 

Dost thoii think of the nobles, whose generous birth, 
And whose bearings of honor cast shades on thine own, 

But whose blood thou wouldst pour out to water the earth, 
And whose corses stride over to mount to a throne ? 

Didst thou think of the widows and orphans, whose wail 
Strikes the clouds, and accusing to heaven may ascend ? 

Or that Justice, insulted, may wake and prevail, 
And send thee an exile from country and friend ? 

"Was it prophecy boding that e'en thou should'st die, 

And thy foes rend the biood-sprinkled wreaths from thy brow ? 

Or did shame wring the deep, scalding tear from thine eye, 
Even shame, that a dog was more noble than thou ? 

Strange compound of passion, ambitions's fierce sway, 

All mingled with meanness and pity's soft fire, 
The world shall admire, but admiring shall pray, 

God send us no copy of that we admire. 

Samuel Deane. 

Who among the thousands that refer to " Deane's History of 
Scituate," stop and think, "Who was this Rev. Samuel Deane 
to whom we owe so much ? " Perhaps the question may come 
into their minds, and they may turn to his book for informa- 
tion ; l)ut it is a fruitless search, as he scarcely mentions him- 
self there. In vain has the author searched for a likeness of 
him, but apparently none now exists, if, in fact, he ever sat for 
one. The memoirs of John and Walter Deane, published at 
Boston in 1849 by Wm. Reed Deane, give a very elaborate 
account of Samuel Deane's ancestors and their families, but 
does not give any information of value later than his marriage. 
He is described as being an erect and handsome man, being 
nearly, if not quite, six fset tall, with a beardless face full of 
character. He Avas the authority for miles around on horses, 
and loved a good horse dearly. Seldom was he seen travelling 
except on horseback, and riding was his daily exercise. A 
niece of his, now living in Boston, has a trunk in almost a 
perfect state of preservation, made by Samuel Deane, and 
covered with the hide of one of his favorite horses. 



<2-»-^ 



^ — v.^ descended in the following 

^-..---^'-O ^« c^^».,,j^. li^e from 



I. John Deane, who came from Chard, England, in 1636, or 
1637. 

H. John Deane, b. 1639 or 1640, d. 1717. 
in. Samuel Deane, b. 1666, d. 1731. 

IV. William Deane, b. 1702, d. 1773. 

V. John Deane, b. 1740, d. 1808. 

VI. Rev. Samuel Deane, b. 1784, d. 1834. 



328 DEANE GENEALOGY. 

Bev. Samuel Deane, son of John and Abigail (White) 
Deane, was ))oin in Mansfield, Mass., March 31, 1784. He 
received his education at Brown University, where he grad- 
uated in 1805. He was ordained Feb. 14, 1810, as colleague 
of Rev. David Barnes, D. D., over the Second Church in 
Scituate, Mass. In the cemetery opposite this church he and 
most of his family are buried. He was pastor of the Second 
Church for twenty-four years, and in July, 1834, resigned on 
account of ill health. He died August 9, 1834. His works 
were, (1.) "History of Scituate," published in Boston, 1831; 
(2.) "The Populous Village/' a poem delivered before the 
Philermenian Society of Brown University in 182r), and 
which was published ; (3.) "Discourse on Christian Liberty," 
1825; (4.) "Discourse on Human Nature," 1827, and many 
poems, never published. Several of his sermons were printed. 
He left in MSS. a satirical poem on " Some Literary Errors of 
the Age," delivered before one of the literary societies of 
Brown University. 

Rev. Samuel Deane's Descendants. 

Samuel Deane, was born at IVIansfield, Mass., March 30 
or 31, 1784, and died at South Scituate, Mass., August i), 1834, 
as has been previously stated. Stella Washburn, his wife, 
(daughter of Hon. Seth Washburn), was born in Raynham, 
]\lass, Jan. 23, 1787; d. Jan. 12, 1850. Their children were, 
J. Martha Phillips, b. June 22, 1811, in Raynham ; d. July 
9, 1802. 2. Charles Frederic, b. March 21, 1813, in Scit- 
uate ; d. in Chicago, 111., Dec. 24, 18(iO. 3. John Milton, 
b. June 13, 1816, in Scituate; d. May 22, 1832. 4. Helen 
Maria, b. April 9, 1819, in Scituate; d. June 24, 1820. 5. 
Helen Maria, 2nd, h. A\ni\ 21, 1821, in Scituate; mar- 
ried Dennis Rockwell, of Chicao:o, 111., Nov. 3, 1859, and d. 
Sep. 8, 1883 or (1882.) 

Charles Frederic, eldest son of Samuel Deane, married at 
St. Louis, Mo., Eloise Augusta Boardman, formerly of Middle- 
town, Conn. Their children were, 1. William Hcmice Board- 
man, b. Dec. 28, 1844, in Pekin, 111. ; 2. Charles Washburn, 
b. July 27, 184(3, in St. Louis; 3. Eloise Stella, b. July 2, 
1848, in St. Louis; d. Dec. 30, 1849; 4. David Hartley 
Armstronij, b. Aus;. IB, 1850, in St. Louis; d. in Chicago, 
1869 ; 5." Harry Stannard, b. Aug. 25, 1852, in Chicago. 
6. Kitty Eloise, b. June 20, 1854, iii Chicago ; 7. Helen Maria, 
b. March 21, 1856 in Chicago; d. in April, 1888; 8. Stella 



REV. SAMUEL DEANE. 329 

Martha, b. Dec. 7, 1857, in Chicago; 9. John Milton, b. 
Aug. 29, 1859, in Chicago. 

KiTTiE Eloise, the sixth chikl of Charles Frederic Deane, 
mar. March, 1874, Frederic M. Blount, of Chicago, 111. 
Their children, 1. Kittie, b. March, 1875, at Chicago; 2. 
Harry Deane, b. Dec, 1877. 

Thealiove is as complete as has been possible to compile in a 
limited time. That every lover of Deane may be able to form 
a better idea of the beautiful character of the man, the two 
following extracts are given. The first from an obituary, 
written by his friend, the Rev. Edmund Q. Sewall, for the 
ChrLstkm Reg ister oi Aug. 23,1834, Vol. XIV., No. 2. 

"Died at Scituate, Mass., Aug. 9th, Rev. Samuel Deane, Pastor of the 
Second Congregational Society of that place. 

"His attempts at poetical composition were not numerous. He gave, 
however, to the world, on some public occasions, several pieces of much 
merit ; and in this paper and other periodical works, he has at different 
times allowed to appear a few specimens of his talent in this kind, which 
were replete with images of household tenderness and natural pathos, and 
a part of which discovered a capacity for powerful and graphic desci-iption, 
both of objects in the outward universe, and of action and passion among 
men. He had a satirical vein, which he indulged without malice. His 
fancy was often sportive in conversation, but always innocent in its play. 
********* 

" The last winter while subject to the pains whose fruit was his death, he 
applied himself with ardor to inquiries respecting the newly-developed 
science of phrenology, and gave the results of his inquiries in an ably 
written lecture. In the learning of his profession Mr. Deane was well 
furnished. In some departments his acquisitions were more than the 
common stock, and he continued to acquire. His taste for natural 
science was such as would have led him to much devotion in its pursuits 
had opportunity favored. He had at one time a carefully selected cabinet 
of minerals. He had acquainted himself with the books of Phillips, 
Cleaveland and others on this and kindred branches. For history he had a 
decided predilection and indulged it. There w^ere not many who were 
better versed than he in the colonial history of Plymouth and Massachu- 
setts, among those whose associations have not led them more directly to 
make such subjects their study. His " History of Scituate " affords evi- 
dences of research and talent highly respectable. 

********* 

"Mr. Deane never ceased to speak of Dr. Barnes as of one whom he 
could not enough honor. The tribute he has inserted in his " History of 
Scituate " to his aged colleague is a memorial of the virtues of both, in a 
relation not the most easy to sustain without fault. Mr. Deane had pro- 
posed, in the hojie of recovering his health in some measure, to 
remove to the distant West. But God had appointed other issues. His 
purposes were broken up, his visions of hope deferred, dispelled forever, 
and his wearied spii-it, with no more pilgrimage, bidden to its final goal. 
He met his last disappointment with Christian firmness, and i^repared. 
himself to die according to the will of God. His end was tranquil." 



330 REV. SAMUEL DEANE. 

The other extract is from the pen of the Rev. Wm. P. 
Tildcn, from a letter, and from an address delivered by him in 
Scituate, Aug. 8, 1857, (or 1858.) 

"Samuel Deane was settled here in Feb., 1810, the year before I was 
born, so that I have no distinct remembrance of his early life. I think of 
him only as he was in later years, when the gray hairs were upon his tem- 
ples, and ill-health had taken the freshness from his cheek. He was a 
man to be remembered for many qualities ; but my first impressions of him 
are more of his splendid singing in the pulpit than of his preaching. He 
was a dear lover of music. He had not only a delicate appreciation of it, 
but a rare capacity for making it. His voice was high and clear, wilh a 
peculiarly musical tone distinct from all other voices, yet blending happily 
with them, always alone, yet always in harmony. How his light gray eye 
would glisten, and his wide mouth open to pour out the high, liquid tenor 
when some favorite old tune kindled him. He had one peculiarity not 
easily forgotten, that of waiting till the choir had sung partly through the 
line, and then striking out at the beginning in bold, clear tones, catch up 
with the choir, and let his voice mingle sweetly with the closing notes. 
He was a man of genius, a man of thought, a man of many noble qual- 
ities ; but he Avas peculiar — his mind did not run in old ruts. He thought 
for himself, and spake his thoughts freely. He hated all shams, espec- 
ially in religion. Whittier's lines to John Randolph have seemed to me 
peculiarly applicable to him : 

♦ Sworn foe of cant, he smote it down, 

With trenchant wit unsparing : 

And scoffing tore with ruthless hand. 

The robe pretense was wearing.' 

" He had no patience with pretense. Even now can you not see the 
scornful curl of his lip at mention of what seemed to him like hypocrisy in 
religion or meanness in daily life? Indeed, he carried this so far as to do 
injustice to his deeper and better nature ; for I have no doubt his strong 
repugnance to every species of pharisaisni often led him to hold back what 
his heart prompted to utter, and left the impression that he was less truly 
religious than he really was at heart. His position on the Arminian side 
in the old controversy with Calvinism doubtless strengthened this natural 
tendency. Very likely he may have felt in after life that he had erred in 
not speaking moi'e directly and freely with his people upon personal 
religion, for many of you remember what a change there was in the char- 
acte° of his preaching during the last few years of his life, when the angel 
of sickness and sorrow came down to trouble the waters. Under the 
baptism of trial his soul seemed to gain fresh fervor, and earnestness, and 
inspiration. My most distinct remembrance of him is at this period. I 
remember particularly the sermon he preached after John's death, and 
after speaking of his boy's lingering illness, with trembling lip, and eyes 
suftused with tears, he repeated in broken utterance those touching lines 
of Gray : 

' One morn I missed him on the 'customed hill, 

Along the heath, and near his favorite tree. 

Another came, nor yet beside the rill, 

Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he.' 

" I remember, too, as some of you doubtless do, of his telling in that 
sermon, that in speaking with John one day during his last sickness about 
the Lord's Supper and his observance of it, John said to him, ' Father, do 
you remember how on such a time I went into the gallery to remain there 



THE CUSHINGS. 331 

during the Communion Service?' *I do, my son.' 'Well, father, 
I went there to covimune with you in spirit.'' 

" He was a lovely boy ; his death was too much for the stricken father, 
whose frame was already shattered by repeated sicknesses. You remem- 
ber how often after this, his deep emotions would choke his utterance in his 
pulpit services. He failed rapidly, his old disease of the lungs, against 
which he had been struggling for yeai ' ited him more and more. 

As he was walking one day with his dear > the Rev. E. Q. Sewall, he 

repeated as applicable to himself, those toucumg lines of Cowper ; 

' I was a stricken deer, hixrt by the archers, 
And have left the herd.' 

adding a beautiful line of Virgil, which speaks of the arrow quivering in 
the death-wound. He soon followed his boy. His memory is still green 
in many of our hearts, and I am glad, as one of the children of his flock, 
to drop this leaf upon his grave as a slight token of respect to his memory.' 

The Cushings were among the early aristocracy of Scituate, 
and the following items relative to Judge Cushing's family are 
taken from some old newspapers. From the J^eiv England 
Weekly Journal: 

" On Saturday last (Mon., Nov. 24, 1729) died here Mr. Nathaniel Gush- 
ing, Son of the Hon. Judge Gushing of Scituate, a Young Gentleman who 
had his Education at Harvard Gollege, and has since been em^jloy'd in the 
Secretary's Office, and several times as Glerk of His Majesty's Gouncil for 
this Province : It is but about a Month past he entered into a married state, 
and it is supjDosed he was seizeU by Death the night of his Marriage, since 
which he languished till the time of his Death. An affecting Instance of 
the vanity of human life, even in the Bloom of Youth, and affluence of 
Worldly Prosperity." 

From the Boston Post Boy and Advertiser, April 3, 1769 : 

"We hear from Scituate that Wednesday morning died there after a 
long confinement Mrs. Mary Gushing, aged 59 years, the virtuous consort 
of the Hon. John Gushing, Esq. of that place." 

From the Boston Evening Post, Sept, 16, 1771 : 

" Married, Thomas Aylwyn, Esq., of this town, merchant, to Miss Lucy 
Gushing of Scituate, daughter of the Hon. John Gushing, Esq., a judge of 
the Superior Gourt." 

And in a Boston paper of Dec. 12, 1885, there appeared the 
following : 

"Chrissie Turner, a colored woman, who died on the 12th inst. in Bour- 
nedale, having arrived at the age of 100 years, was born a slave and lived 
for many years in the family of Judge Gushing in Scituate, being a part 
of the doAvry of Mrs. Gushing at her marriage." 

Items relative to the Turner family, also among the early 
aristocracy of Scituate, are found as follows. From the Boston 
Gazette and Country Journal, of Monday, August 31, 1761 ; 



332 TURNERS WM. VASSALL. 

«' We hear from Scituate that on the 22nd instant died Mrs. Hannah 
Turner, widow of Col. Amos Turner, and mother of Col. Thomas Clapp of 
that Town, in the eightieth year of her Age : In every Station and Condi- 
tion of Life, much of the Virtues and Graces of the Christian were con- 
spicuous in her, as she lived desired, so she died lamented. She died in a 
good old Age, an old Woman, and full of Years, and we have Reason to 
hope she is now Partaker of the Rest that remaineth to the children of God 
in a better World." 

In the Post of Nov. 29, 1773 : 

'• Married at Scituate, Mr. Wm. Turner to Miss Eunice Clap, daughter of 
Nathl. Clap, Esq." 

Also in the Boston Evening Post, Feb. 7, 1774 : 

" On the 22d of Dec. last was celebrated at Plimouth the anniversary of 
their ancestors' first landing in New England, on which occasion the Rev. 
Mr. Turner of Scituate deliver'd a discourse in the Rev. Mr. Robbins's 
Meeting House from Zach. IV. part of the 9th & 10th verses. After which 
a very suitable dinner was prepar'd at Mr. Howland's where a great num- 
ber of the people with five of the Clergy were genteely entertained and 
the day & evening very agreeably spent & to the honor of all present. 
Every countenance being expressive of gratitude & joy and every tongue 
exuberant in blessing the memory of their pious forefathers." 

The following relative to William Vdssall, after he left Scit- 
uate, is taken from a book entitled "The Vassalls of New Eng- 
land and their Immediate Descendants," by Harris, pp. 4 
and 5 : 

"William Vassall in 1646 sailed for England in the 'Supply' in 
aid of a petition for the redress of wrongs in the government, and 
never returned, but in 164S returned to Barbadoes and there died in 
1655, aged 65 years. His will is dated at Barbadoes, July 13, 16=^5. 
He bequeathed to his son John one third of all his estates, and the 
remainder to his daughters, Judith, Frances, Ann, Margaret and 
Mary. His son was appointed Executor, and in his absence Nicho- 
las Ware, who appointed, May S, 1656, Capt. Joshua Hubbard of 
Hingham his attorney for the sale of the Scituate Estate, by virtue 
of two writings, one signed by Resolved White and James Adams, 
Feby. 18, 1656, and the other by Margaret and Mary Vassall, Mar. 3, 
1655-6. The estate was conveyed by Joshua Hubbard to John 
Cushen and Mathyas Brigs for £120, and consisted of about 120 
acres, with houses and barns. The deed was signed by Joshua 
Hubbard, Resolved White and Judith his wife, and James Adams, 
July 18, 1657."* 

An old rhyme, which "went the rounds" lor many years 



* See further account of Vassall ia Deane's History, and in chapter on Briggs Yard. 



MAY REV. CHAS. T. TORRE Y. 333 

about a prominent man ^Yith a poor character, is here revived 
for the editi coition of the older people, viz. : 

" Here lies the dull sleeper called ***** 
Who for thirty nine years has played off his jokes. 
Whose days of probation for marriage have past, 
And this is his last May ; yes the very last. 
In future his fate will be hard as a rock, 
He will lie snoring in bed till past ten o'clock. 
Without victuals to eat or a deary to cheer him, 
I solemnly hope no one will go near him ; 
A hater of man, an insulter of woman : 
Like a blasted old tree in the midst of a common. 
Crown his gates ye May nymphs with wormwood and myrtle 
More fragrant and fair than a salt water turtle." 

Rev. Sanil J. May was one of Scituate's strong abolitionists, 
he succeeded Mr. Deane at the Second church. A history of 
his life has been published in book form by the Unitarian 
Society. 

There came from Scituate one man who appeared before the 
world a beautiful example of strength of character, and who 
died a martyr in his efforts to free the people, for whom so 
many lost their lives later. This was the Rev. Charles T. 
Torrey. He was born in a one story gambrel-roof house, 
located in Greenbush Village, on the first left hand corner 
northeast from the old Stockbridge place on the road that runs 
by the pond to the harbor. This house was occupied for many 
years by Calvin Jenkins. During Mr. Torrey's incarceration 
in Baltimore jail, after his conviction, and while awaiting sen- 
tence, in 1844, he wrote a book entitled ''Home, or- the Pil- 
grims' Faith Revived." It should be read by every resident 
or native of Scituate. In this volume he speaks of Scituate, or 
"Home," as he calls it, as follows : 

" The first settlers were generally men of property. Many of 
them were scholars and accomplished gentlemen. They impressed 
on their children a love of learning and a refinement of manners 
that has never wholly disappeared, in the darkest periods of the 
annals of ' Home.' Sound in their religious faith, taught the value 
of a good hope towards God by the lessons of persecution, there was 
not perhaps for two generations a head of a family who did not 
belong to the church ; not a house in which the morning and evening 
sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving was omitted. No law was ever 
needed to induce the people to sustain a sufficient number of excel- 
lent free schools, and for more than a century from the settlement, a 



334 REV. CHARLES T. TORREY. 

public grammar school supplied to all who desired it, the means of 
a more enlarged course of study. While the rigor of the early faith 
and piety remained, no town set a greater value on the higher 
branches ot education. For a century and a half hardly a foreigner 
has entered ' Home.' The few who came were soon assimilated to 
the habits and feelings of a people born, living and dying on the 
same soil. I can remember twenty families in one section of the 
town which for seven, eight and nine generations have lived on the 
same spot ; no rare thing in the old countries but quite so in our 
new and ever moving land. No foreign sources of corruption 
therefore ever came in to make the sons unworthy to bear the names 
of their sires. If they have fallen the root of evil is from within." 

A stone erected to the memory of Rev. Mr. Torrey, in the 
•cemetery at Mt. Auburn, Muss., bears the following inscrip- 
tions : 

"REV. CHARLES T. TORREY 

Born at Scituate Nov. 3i, 1S13. Graduated at Yale College, Aug. 
1S33. Ordained at Providence, Mar., 1837. Arrested at Baltimore, 
June 24, 1844. Died in the Penitentiary of that City May 9, 1S46." 

" Charles Turner Torrey was arrested for aiding slaves to regain 
their liberty. For this humane act he w^as indicted as a criminal, 
convicted by the Baltimore City Court, and sentenced to the Peniten- 
tiary for six years. While on his death bed he was refused a par- 
don by the Government of Maryland, and died of consumption after 
two years confinement, a victim of his sufferings. It is better to die 
in prison with the peace of God in our breasts than to live in free- 
dom with a polluted conscience. 



"Where now beneath his burthen 
The toiling slave is driven. 
Where now a tyrant's mockery 
Is offered up to heaven. 
There shall his praise be spoken. 
Redeemed from falsehood's ban 
When the fetters shall be broken. 
And the slave shall be a man." 



" The friends of the American Slaves erect this stone to his mem- 
ory as a Martyr for Liberty." 

Drake in his history, page 659, relates the following : "Feb., 
1761, the body of Maj. Gen'l Edward Wbitmore was brought 
to Boston from Plymouth in the sch. "" Leoj)ar(J ,' Thomas Church, 
master. He was coming from Louisburg to Boston and fell 
overboard and was drowned." As Capt. Church was a Scituate 



SHIP-WRECKS. 335 

man, the vessel ma}^ have been a Hanover or Scituate vessel. 
Barry says, "During the great storm of April 16-17, 1851, the 
sea broke completely over the narrow strip of beach between 
the Third and Fourth Cliffs." Wrecks strewed the coast after 
that fearful storm. From the Boston J^ews Letter the follow- 
ing is taken : 

"On Friday Apr. 6th. 1711, Capt. Brown in a large sloop from Surra- 
nan was taken off Scituate two miles from the shore by two Flacentia 
Privateer sloops, 32 men in each, no great guns. Brown and three of his 
men were put on shore, his mate and one of his men were sent away in 
the sloop." 

In an early number of the JSfew England Weekly Journal 
appears the following : 

"On Wednesday night last (Aug. 28, 1728) at eleven o'clock, Capt. 
Joseph Anderson coming from Lisbon, bound to this place in a Brigantine 
ran on the rocks near Scituate, whereby the vessel is likely to be entirely 
lost and much of the cargo, tho' the lives of the men are sav'd after abun- 
dance of fatigue and difficulty." 

Also the JSfew England Weekly Journal, of a later date, 
gives the following account of another vessel as follows : 

"In our last we gave an account that a large Ship had run ashore near 
Scituate : we have since been informed more fully of the same, and learn 
that the said Ship was commanded by Capt. Wellington, belonging to Bris- 
tol, and coming hither from Lisbon loaden with Salt, that on or about Friday 
the 10th Instant, (Oct., 1729) she ran aground on Marshfield Beach, and 
that after a while six of the Men got into the Boat to go on shore, but 
while they were near the Ship the Waves beat so violently, that the Boat 
filled with Water, and five of the said Men were drowned, and one held 
by the Boat and got again into the Ship, where were six more that 
remained on Board ; that soon after the Ship broke to pieces, and the Salt 
washing away, the part they were in lighten'd, and swung nearer the shore, 
by which means they all got safe to Land. The Vessel and cargo was 
entirely lost." 

Representations of the earliest vessels were those built and 
used by the Egyptians. They were small vessels or galleys 
built with keels, ribs, and planking, without decks, but strength- 
ened crosswise by numerous benches on which the rowers sat. 
It is mentioned in early history as a noteworthy circumstance 
that when Cnesar invaded Britain, his vessels Avere so large they 
could not reach the shore, and his troops on disembarking, 
were breast high in the water. John J. Currier, in his very 
interesting Hisfork-al Sketch of Shipbuilding on the Merrimac 
River ^ published in 1877, states that "In Newbury port, where 
they had every facility for Imilding and launching large vessels, 



336 FIRST SHIPS BUILT IN AMERICA. 

they did not build a vessel so large as 594 tons until 1836." 
Undoubtedly the j^r.s^ vessel of size stifficient to navigate the ocean 
launched from the sliores of New England, was " a faire pinnace 
of thirty tons," called the " Virginia,'''' which according to 
Strachey, was built by the Popham Colony at the mouth of the 
Kennebec, in 1607, thirteen years before the landing of the 
Pilgrims at Plymouth, and which made a successful voyage 
across the Atlantic, the same year. Twenty-four years after 
this, on the fourth of July, 1G31, Gov. Winthrop launched the 
^^ Blessing of the Bay,''' the first vessel built in this part of the 
State. This vessel was built on what has since been known as the 
"Ten Hills farm " at Medford on the Mystic Kiver, and about 
fifty years ago the identical ways from which she was launched 
were still standing and in a fair state of preservation. She was 
built of locust timl3er cut up on the farm. * Capt. George Henry 
Preble, U. S. N., in an article entitled " Early Ship-building in 
Massachusetts," says, " The ship-carpenter, who came over to 
the Plymouth people in 1624, soon died, but not until he had 
built two shallops, one of which was employed in the Fall of 
the next year to carry a load of corn on a trading voj^age to the 
Kenneliec River. She had a ' little deck over her amid-ships to 
keep ye corne drie but ye men were faine to stand it out in all 
weathers without shelter.' The next year they 'tooke one of 
ye biggest of these shallops and sawed her in ye middle and so 
lengthened her some 5 or 6 foote and strengthened her timbers 
and so builte her up and laid a deck on her and so made her a 
conveniente and wholesome vessell very fitt and comfortable for 
their use which did them service 7 years after ; and they gott 
her finished and fitted her with sayles and anchors ye ensuing 
year.' Such were the first vessels of the Pilgrims." Between 
the years 1678 and 1706, Scituate far exceeded any other New 
England town excepting Boston in the number of vessels built. 
This latter year she was equalled only by Newbury and Salem. 
The following is a partial list of vessels which were built in 
Scituate during early times. Many other vessels built here dur- 
ing these years can be found under the chapters on the different 
yards. In 1694, there was built the sloop " MAYFLOWER," 25 
tons ; owners, the Captain, James Truworthy, Boston, Joha 
Warren, Thomas Dalton of the Island of Providence. 1694, 
sip. "KATHARINE," 25 tons, Capt. Samuel Hill; owners, 
Samuel Heyman and Robert Knowles, Charlestown. 1694, 



* See Chapter, North River, Continaed. 



VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE PRIOR TO 1 700. 337 

"brig't'n "PRIMROSE," 50 tons, Philip Bass, master; owners, 
Andrew Belclier, John Eyer, Jeremiah Dummer, AVilliam 
Clarke, Boston, Edw. Shippen of Philadelphia. 1695, ship 
" SPEEDWELL," 60 tons ; owners, Capt. Thomas Burrington, 
John Foster, Benjamin Alford, Edward Thomas, Abraham 
Blish, of Boston. 1695, sip. " SPEEDWELL," 25 tons ; James 
Seyward of Gloucester, owner and master. 1695, brig't'n 
"JOHN & ABIEL," 60 tons; owners, John Ireland, her 
master, Andrew Belcher, John Eyer, George Cable and Jeremiah 
Allen of Boston, and Richard Clayton and Edward Parson of 
the Island of Mount Serat. 1696, ship " DOLPHIN," 100 tons ; 
owners, Capt. Giles Fyfield, Samuel Lillie and Edward Martin, 
merchants, John Rusk, Samuel Greenwood, Thomas Baker, 
Nathaniel Henchman, all of Boston. 1696, brig't'n "ADVEN- 
TURE," 50 tons, Capt. Andrew Rankin; owners, Andrew 
Belcher, Daniel Oliver, Andrew Rankin, of Boston, and Isaac 
Little of Marshfield. 1696, ship "SPEEDWELL," 100 tons, 
Capt. Robert White ; owners, Samuel Lillie, Edward Martin, 
Samuel Greenwood, Thomas Baker and John Buck, Boston, 
and Giles Fifield. 1(596, sip. "HOPEWELL," 35 tons, Scit- 
uate ; owners, William Webster of Piscatag, N. H., and John 
Linkler, of Boston. 1696, ship "ANDREW & SAMUEL,'' 
80 tons ; owners, Andrew Belcher, and John Colman, merchants, 
Samuel Lillie, and Daniel Oliver, all of Boston. 1697, sip., 
afterwards, brig't'n, "HOPEWELL," 60 tons, Capt. Wm. 
Rouse; owner, Samuel Lillie, Boston. 1697, brig't'n 
"MICHAEL & SAMUEL," 60 tons; owners, the Capt., 
Thomas Lillie, and Samuel Lillie of Boston, and Michael Lam- 
bert of the Island of St. Christophers, merchant. The follow- 
ing is a copy in full of the register or oath taken by the owners 
or builders, viz. : 

" 1697-8. Daniel Zachary of Boston in New England, Ironmon- 
ger, being a professed Qiiaker did solemnly declare in the presence 
of Almighty God the witness of the truth of what he said. That the 
sip. *' UNITY," of Boston, aforesaid, whereof Matthew Estis is at 
present Master, being a square sterned vessel of the burthen of about 
Forty Tons, was built at Scituate in New England around 1697, and 
that he the said Daniel Zachary is at present sole owner thereof and 
that no forreigner directly or indirectly hath any share or part inter- 
est therein. 

Declarat Cor. 

Willianj Stoughton & Jahted Brenton, Collectors. 

The above Mathew Estes was probably a Hanover man, and 



338 VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE IN EARLY TIMES. 

the same that resided on a farm in West Hanover, where a 
descendant, Henry Estes, now resides, and this latter vessel, 
built for Quakers, may have been built by Edward Wanton. 
1697, brig't'n "HOPEWELL," of the Island of Jamaica in 
1()99 ; owners, Capt. John Sadler, Boston, William Smith of 
Jamaica. 1698, ship " TRYAL," 60 tons, hailing from Taunton, 
Capt. James Smith ; owners, David Jeftries of Boston, and 
Morris Hammond and Simon Stacey of Taunton. 1698, sip. 
"ENDEAVOUR," 20 tons, Capt. John Bowdon ; Benjamin 
Gallop of Boston, owner. 1698, sip. "FRIENDS ADVEN- 
URE," 30 tons, Capt. John Tapper ; owner, Robert Evans, of 
Boston. 1698, ship "JOHN & ABIAL," 100 tons, hailing 
from Mount Serat ; owners, Capt. John Ireland of Boston, Col. 
Anthony Hodges and James Donnalson of the Island of Mount 
Serat, and Thomas Thompson of Pool, in the Kingdom of Eng- 
land, residing in Boston in 1702, a professed Quaker. As 
will be seen the above were built during the sixteen hundreds. 
Commencing with the year 1700 there was built in Scituate, in 
1700, the sloop " ELIZABETH," 20 tons ; owners, William 
Goddard, mariner, and Eleazer Darby of Boston ; also in 1700, 
the sloop " CONTENT," 30 tons ; owners, Samuel Lillie, mer- 
chant, and Tobias Greene, mariner, of Boston, and Nathaniel 
Lommis ; also in 1700, the brig't'n "PRUDENT SARAH," 50 
tons ; owners, Capt. Thomas Tomlin and James Allison, of the 
Island of Jamaica ; and also in 1700, the hatch "HOPE," 30 
tons ; owner, Capt. Thomas Lasenbv, Boston. There was 
built m Scituate, in 1701, the l)rig " MAYFLOAVER," 30 tons ; 
owners, Charles Shepard, merchant, and David Jeflries of 
Boston. In 1703, the brig't'n "WILLIAM & THOMAS," 72 
tons, Capt. Francis Plaisted ; owners, William Fenton and son, 
Th(mias Fenton, and Jacob Doval of the Island of Nevis; also 
in 1703, the, sloop " HENNERETA," 20 tons, Capt. John 
Jarvis ; owner, John Frizell ; and also in 1703, the sloop 
"JOHN & DANIEL," 30 tons : owners, Daniel Middleton and 
John Frizell of Boston. In 1704, the sloop " FRANCES," 20 
tons, was built at Scituate, before called the " Larke,'^ of Bos- 
ton ; owners, Tiino. Harris, English merchant, in Oporto, and 
David Jeffries of Boston ; also in 1704, the ship " JOHN <& 
DAVID," 60 tons; owners, David Jeffries, merchant, and 
John Frizell of Boston; also in 1704, the brig't'n "DORO- 
THY," 40 tons ; owners, David Jeffries, merchant, and John 
Frizell of Boston ; aUoin 1704, the brig't'n " DOVE," 45 tons ; 
owner, Samuel Lillie, of Boston ; and lastly in 17.04, the ship 



VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE IX EARLY TIMES. 339 

'' ADVENTURE," 50 tons ; owner, Nicholas Roberts of Bos- 
ton. In 1705, the hrlgrn "SWALLOW," 30 tons, was built 
at Scituate ; owner, John Frizell of Boston; also in 1705, the 
brig't'n "ABIGAIL & SARAH," 60 tons; owners, Edward 
Martyn and William Hutchinson, merchants, and Thomas Pal- 
mer of Boston ; also in 1705, the sloop "BENJAMIN," 30 tons, 
owner, Benjamin Flood of Boston ; and lastly in 1705, 
the sloop "AMITY," 50 tons; owners, Daniel Oliver, Francis 
Clarke and William Wellsteed of Boston, merchants, and 
Nathaniel Oliver of Boston. In 1706, the brig't'n "TYGER," 
60 tons, was built at Scituate ; owners, Thomas Palmer and 
Edward Martyn of Boston ; also in 1706, sloop "BETTY," 40 
tons ; owners, Andrew Belcher and Charles Chambers of 
Charlestown; and also in 1706, brig't'n "GOOD LUCK," 70 
tons ; owners, Samuel Liilie, merchant and John Ruffgles of 
Boston. In 1711, the ship "JOHN & DOROTHY," 80 tons, 
was built at Scituate ; «Tohn Frizell of Boston, owner ; and in 
1712, the brig't'n "MAYFLOWER," 30 tons ; John Frizell, of 
Boston, owner. The absence of official records leaves the 
history of ship])uilding, during the middle of the 18th century, 
a blank as has been elsewhere stated, but the following })etition 
found among some old MSS. will be read with interest by 
many : 

' ' 7^0 the Honourable Senate <£• Hottourable House of Representa- 
tives in General Court Assembled : The petition of the under- 
signed an inhabitant of Scituate respectft;lly shows. That in the 
year i775' he was the owner of \ part of a sch. burthened 44 tons, 
one year old, which was all the property he then had. Said vessel 
was laid up in a creek of Scituate, in the month of April, 1775. The 
rigging & sails were taken from their places and stored in the cabin 
and hold. Some time in June or July of the same year a party of 
soldiers sent by the committee of Public Safety of the town of Cohas- 
set went and took said sails and carried them to Roxbur}' to be used 
for tents for the Army. Your petitioner was at that time a Militia 
soldier in actual service. He was afterwards paid the number of 
dollars his sails were said to be worth in Continental money, the 
value of which at the time was a mere trifle. He afterwards lent the 
state a hundred pounds of his own hard earnings and took a note 
signed Henry Gardner. In about i8 years after, received a State 
note in lieu thereof for two hundred and ten dollars. The above 
facts your petitioner is abundantly able to establish before any com- 
Tnittee which jour Honours may depute to hear the same. He is 
now Si years of age, infirm & poor, has no relatives or friends of 
sufficient pecuniary ability to support him. He therefore prays your 
Honours to take a compassionate view of his case, and award liim 



340 KOGEKS MERKITT TURNER. 

that justice which to you shall seem meet and proper, and as in duty 
bound will ever pray. 

{^Signed) 

Jared Battles." 

The first ship-builder, whom it has been found impossible to 
locate at any particular yard in Scituate, is Asa Rogers, who 
built here in 1803, the sch. "MORNING STAR," (see Rogers 
Yards). Another shipbuilder, whom it has been impossible to 
locate during all the years he built, is Elisha Merritt who lived 
on the Black Pond Road, South Scituate. He was brother of 
Consider, whose son Joseph built on the Chittenden Yard. 
Elisha had two sons, both of whom are now living in North 
Scituate. They are Joseph IL, a wheelwright and Cummings, 
a blacksmith. Elisha was the son of Elisha and Priscilla Merritt, 
and a lineal descendant of Henry Merritt, who was in Scituate 
in 1628, (see Deane's " History of Scituate"). 

built a fishing schooner, the 
Mozart," 40 tons, about 

1837, above the tide mill at 
Cohasset for his brother Francis ; and earlier or in 1829 the sch. 
"Elizabeth," 57 tons, for James Collier. He also built one 
vessel at the Harbor at King's Landing by the old carding 
mill. He was partner at one time with Copeland, Pratt and 
others at the Fox Hill Yard,* and tlie following vessels which he 
built at Scituate, he may have built in this yard. In 1816, the 
sch. "UNION," 48 tons ; owners, Elisha, Benjamin and Consider 
Merritt, Jr., Freeman Litchfield, Samuel Hiland, Silvester 
Clapp and Caleb Bailey of Scituate. In 1819, the sch. 
"LITTLE MARTHA," 55 tons, of Boston. In 1825, the sch. 
" LAGRANGE," 73 tons ; owned by Lemuel Webb, Jesse 
Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., John Beal, Peleg Jenkins and Simeon 
Bates, Jr., of Scituate. He also built in Scituate, in 1831, the 
sch. "ELLEN," 61 tons, of Cohasset, afterwards of Orleans. 

.^ y9 , j^-^ was a shipbuilder in 

^^r^^^^n^o'^^'-^S^^^^-^^'''^^ Scituate during the early 
^""^ part of this century. 

One report says he built on North River, but an old resident at 
the harbor says he remembers his building the "Richmond" 
in the Samuel Kent yard ^\ the h&rbor. In any case, th© 



Q^^f^ ^^ <y^^*9-0-cy^ . , 



♦ See chapter on Fox Hill Yard. 



BROOKS 



LITCTIFIELI). 



341 



followins: vessels were built by him, and in Scituate. In 1817, 
the sch."" MONROE," 47 tons, of Boston; owners, Theodore, 
Samuel, Jr., and Sanuiel Turner, Hersey Litchfield, Elias 
Pincin, Benjamin R. Jacobs, of Scituate, and others. Also 
in 1817 the brig, "RICHMOND," 116 tons, of Boston. 
Altered into a schooner in 1828; owners, Jesse Dunbar, Sr. 
and Jr., Capt. Seth Webb of Scituate, and others. Samuel 
Turner has one daughter now living, the widow of Frank 
Brooks, who was so"n of William Brooks * who was a ship- 
builder, and built in Scituate in 1818 the sch. " GOLCONDA," 
78 tons, of Boston, 
but at what yard he 
built we have been 
unable to ascertain. 




.et^n/^ ^^^^< 




Samuel Rogers built in Scituate in 1817 the sloop "NANCY." 
(See Rogers Yards. ) There was also built in Scituate in 1818, 
at some yard unknown, the sch. " FOUR BROTHERS," 53 tons, 

of Boston, by 
master carpen- 
ter, who lived in 
B e ec h wo o d, 
North Scituate. His grandson, John, now lives in North Scit- 
uate. He has also a grand-daughter, Juliza, now living. The 
wife of Thomas Lawrence, of Somerville, is a daughter of 
Leonard. He also had sons Addison, John and Foster. 

There was built in Scituate in 1819, at some yard not 
known, the sch. "FOUR SISTERS," 67 tons, of Boston, by 

^ — s master carpenter. She was 

^:^ j'/~ "/y>>^ Stt* owned by Hall & Billings, and 

^H€^^ MMA^lUXy^ Martin D. and Benjamin Mer- 

^ ritt, Lindale Tilden, Elijah 

Pierce, Silas Clapp and Leonard Litchfield, of Scituate. 

The last shipbuilder that comes under this chapter is Cum- 
mings Litchfield. He had built in company with James S. 
Burrell, at the Wanton yard, and under the chapter de- 



*William Brooks, the shipbuilder, was probably the son of William and Betty 
Brooks, of Scituate, as they had a son William, b. March 12, 1771. 



342 VESSELS BUILT BY CUMMINGS LITCHFIELD. 

voted to that yard, can l)e found a sketch of his life, and the 
vessels he l)uilt there. In 1852 he conceived the novel idea of 
building a vessel in his own door yard. He got his timber and 
plank ready, laid the keel, and went to w^ork on a schooner of 
35 tons, and soon had "as handsome a little vessel ready for 
launching as was ever built three miles from the water ; " the 
keel being laid on the land between his residence in 1889, and 
the house of the late Misses Sally and Rachel Lapham. It 
was named the " ONLY SON," and great preparations were 
made to get it into the river. The roads in that vicinity are 
hard to travel, and most people thought the first rising ground 
would lie the last resting-place of the "Only Son." Not so 
Mr. Litchfield. He procured four sets of the heaviest axles 
and wheels, got his vessel well in position, hitched on eighteen . 
pairs of large oxen, and, accompanied by nearly all the 
inhabitants of Scituate and neighboring towns, slowly moved 
his cumbersome load to Union bridge, where it was launched 
without accident. The " Only Son " was named after Wil- 
liam, the only son of Cummings Litchfield. She is registered 
as 23 tons, built at Scituate in 1860, and she was owned by Mr. 
Litchfield. Her first voyage was from Charlestown to Grand 
Manan freighting. Later, she went to Bay of Fundy cod- 
fishing, under Capt. Trim. Afterward she was run as a packet 
from Scituate to Boston, and back to Grand Manan, where 
she saved forty tierces of wine from a vessel, and got quite a 
salvage. She was finally sold to Grand Manan to go cod- 
fishing. 

Cummings Litchfield had a ship-yard next to Union bridge, 
just below on the Scituate side, and here he built one schooner 
and several "gundalows." He built in 1868 the sch. "PER- 
FECT," 2Q tons, at Union bridge. She was used fishing two or 
three years under Capt. Israel Merritt ; then lumbering. 
Later, Capt. Litchfield, her builder, took command of her and 
went to Gloucester and other voyages. She was very fast, and 
cut a shnie in the difterent ports. His last trip in her was to 
Bucksport, Me., where he sold her in the spring of the year. 
Among other sondolas or "gundalows" which he built at Union 
bridge were the following: "SEA BOY," "EUREKA," and 
"RED ROVER." 

We now come to the vessels whose builders have not been 
ascertained, neither do we know at what yards they were built ; 
but it is certain they were all built in Scituate, Mass. There 



VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE. 34S 

was built here in 1786 the sch. " DIAXA," 30 tens, of Cohasset ; 
owners, Joseph Phillii)s and William Macomber, of Marshlield ; 
also in 1786, the sch. " CENTURION," 47 tons, Samuel Clapp, 
owner, of Scituate. In 1787, the sch. "BETSEY," 51 tons, of 
■^oston. In 1787, the sch. "DOLPHIN," 44 tons, " deep waist 
id a long quarter deck." of Boston, captured and condemned 
by the British in 1812. In 1787, the sip. "HANNAH," 40 
tons, of Boston. In 17.S7, the sch. " FISH HAWK," 41 J tons, 
of Scituate ; owned by Rowland Thomas, Calvin Litchfield and 
Calvin Jenkins, of Scituate. In 1787, the sch. "HOPE," 54 
tons, owned by Anthony Waterman, Sr. and Jr., of Scituate; 
and also in 1787, tlie sch. "LUCY," 60 tons, of Duxliury ; in 
1811 foundered at sea. In 1788, the sch. "FRIENDSHIP," 
49 tons ; owned by George Morton, Joshua Otis, Jr., Samuel 
Simmons and Nathaniel Turner, Jr. , of Scituate ; afterward 
sold to Boston ; also in 1788, the sch. "FAVORITE," 64 tons; 
owned by Consider and George Merritt, and Bryant Steven- 
son of Scituate ; afterward sold to Sylvanus and David Snow, 
Jr., of Truro, David Snow, master. In 1781), the sch. "SEA 
FLOWER," 46 tons, of Boston. In 1789, the sch. " POLLY," 
40 tons, owned by Samuel Arnold, Weymouth, innholder. 
In 1789 the Brig't'n "SWALLOW," 75 tons, of Boston; and 
also in 1789 tlie sch. "LUCY," 50 tons, of Duxbury. In 
1790, the sch. "REVIVAL," 44 tons, owned by Caleb Prouty, 
Jr., Jesse Dunbar and Thomas Prouty, of Scituate; also in 
1790 the sch. " BETSEY," 51 tons, owned by Matthew Pierce, 
James Merritt, and Luther Holbrook, of Scituate. In 1791, 
the sell. "REVIVAL," 44 tons ; owned by Jesse Dunl)ar and 
Eli Curtis, of Scituate. There was also built on North River 
the whaling ship " WASHINGTON," of Nantucket, and under 
the command of Cai)t. George Bunker, was the Jivfit to .shoio 
an American Flag in a Spanit^h Pacific port. The "Washing- 
ton " went to Calhio on the coast of Peru, and on the 4th of 
July, 1792, two months after the discovery of the Columliia 
River, by Gray, dis{)layed the stars and stripes in that port.* 
Lying there was an English whaling vessel and a French brig, 
both manned by Nantucket men, who assisted Capt. Bunker in 
his commemoration of the day. The following vessels were 
built at Scituate and registered at New Bedford : sch. "BET- 
SEY," iHiilt at Scituate in 1803 ; bark "RUSSELL," in 1804 ; 
ship " HELENA," 1806 ; ship " MODOC," 1810 ; ship " AVIL- 



* See accounts of the " Columbia " and " Washington," in chapter on Briggs yard. 



344 VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE. 

LIAM PENN," 1810; sch. "FOUK BROTHERS, 1818. 
The sch. "MOUNT HOPE," 65 tons, oak, copper and iron- 
fastened, was built in Scituate in 1827, rebuilt in 1850. 
Owned in 1865 hy B. Clark, Rockland, Me. ; Capt. J. Spauld- 
ing. The sch. "ANGEL," 71 tons, fisherman, was built in 
Scituate in 1830 ; owned in 1865 by Stephen Luce, Scituate : 
Capt. J. Luce. The sch. "JOS. ATKINS," 131 tons, ofProv- 
incetown, w^as built in Scituate in 1838. The brig "JOHN B. 
DODS," 160 tons, of Provincetown, was built in Scituate in 
1840. The brig, formerly bark, " SAMUEL & THOMAS," 
190 tons, was built in Scituate in 1841, of oak, iron, and 
copper fastened ; whaler ; owned in New Bedford in 1872 by 
D. B. Kempton. The brig " Samuel & Thomas" in 1841 was 
owned by Samuel Soper, of Provincetown, and w'as named 
after his sons. She was whaling in the Atlantic Ocean, where 
she continued until 1850, when she was sold to Mattapoisett to 
R. L. Barstow and went whaling to the Indian and Pacific 
Oceans, until 1863, when she was sold to David R. Kempton, 
New Bedford. In Septemljer, 1866, Thomas Parker, the 
third mate, was killed by falling from aloft. In 1867, Capt. 
Cromwell had the command of her, and in 1869 she was sold to 
Talcahuano, Chili, and continued whaling from that port. The 
sch. "PRESIDENT HARRISON," 65 tons, of Orleans, was built 
in vScituate in 1841. The sch. "AGNES," of 53 tons, was 
built in 1842, in Scituate. She drew nine feet, was of oak, 
iron, and copper fastened. In 1874 she belonged to Francis 
Culpepper, of the Barbadoes, and was sailing under the Brit- 
ish flao;, Capt. Peter Spencer. She was probably the old 
" Talisman:' The sch. " CHATHAM," was built in Scituate in 
1844, 65 tons, fisherman, owned in 1865 by J. G. Bowley, 
Provincetown, Capt. Latham. The sch. "ALEXANDER," 74 
tons, oak, iron fastened, w^'is built in Scituate in 1848 ; 60 feet 
long, flush deck ; owned in 1863 by a Mr. Johnson, Province- 
town, Capt. Snow. The bark "MARNIX," 225 tons, oak and 
pine, was built in Scituate in 1849, and w^as owned in 1861 by 
G. C. Crommelin, at De venter, Capt. Wassenaar. The sch. 
" EMMA V. ," 149 tons, was built in Scituate in 1852 ; owned in 
1859 by B. P. Burk, and others, of Provincetown. Built of 
oak and locust, copper and iron fastened ; trunk cabin ; Capt. 
Cook. The bark " SALEM," 260 tons, was built in Scituate 
in 1854; owned in 1861 by Goodhue & Co., N. Y. ; Capt. 
Conilard. We will close this chapter with some verses 
WTitten probal:)ly fifty years ago by an old shipbuilder, descrip- 



A STORY TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS. 345 

tive of two of Scituate's maidens who died many years ago, and 
whose rehitives have long since followed them. 

On Nichols place of ancient date 
Two maiden sisters live, 
Enjoying all the happiness, 
That hogs and cows can give. 

Their father was a plain old man 
Who lived to need a staff, 
And lost his eye while toiling hard 
To help his better half. 

But he is numbered with the dead, 
His wife has followed him, 
And all that he was worth he left 
In neat and wholesome trim. 

These two young maids came in as heirs 
And settled on the farm, 
Well stocked with brutes of every kind 
And wood to keep them warm. 

Now you must know some skill 'twould need 

To manage every part, 

And Nabby was the sine qua non 

To give it her whole heart. 

But now methinks some one inquires 
How may this lady look ; 
What is her size and what her form, 
And is she a good cook ? 

Well then to gratify their whims 
I'll tell her looks and life, 
In hopes that some will be inspired 
To choose her for a wife ! 

Her form is squabbish like the swine, 
She waddles like a duck. 
And when the mud is very deep 
She'll easily get stuck. 



Her head a masterpiece in size, 
A good machine to bunt. 
Her hair she dresses gracefully. 
With cowlick right in front. 

Her eyes like Cupid's glow with love 
And glisten like a cat. 



34(l TWO SCITUATE .^MAIDENS. 

And when she laughs, the little balls 
Seem nearly lost in fat. 

Her flabby cheeks like jewels hang 
An inch below her chin, 
Her mouth most delicately looks 
When she attempts to grin. 

But O ! ye wise ones who have toiled 
With care and anxious doubt 
Perpetual motion to invent, 
Lo ! we have found it out. 

'Tis Nabby's tongue that never tires 
But clatters all the day, 
And gabbles worse than cackling hens 
Impatient at delay. 



Her mode of life comports full well 
With one whose fate has been, 
To live in "single blessedness" 
Amidst so many men. 



With taste refined she milks the cow 
With care she feeds her sheep, 
And stuffs her pig with sour milk 
Till it can scarcely creep. 

For instance, when she milks her cow 
She sometimes ties her tail, 
Tlie cow as often lifts her foot 
And sets it in the pail. 

Now neatness says, turn out tlie milk, 
But Nabby says not so ; 
" The more good things the richer cream, 
And I will let it go." 

But still she does all she can do, 
Of course she's not to blame 
For heavy snows sometimes block up 
This ever active dame. 

When summer comes 'tis worth one's while 
Her dairy to behold, 
Well lined with cheese of goodly size, 
And butter fine as gold. 



TWO SCITUATE MAlDKiNS. 347 

But if her head should yield a hair 
Of most prodigious length, 
Nobly she toils to work it in, 
Employing all her strength. 

That she exec! ^ ' ^^aking cheese 
I believe no one es, 

Though all who cat them wrill confess 
They once were friends to flies. 

How she can cook, is still unknown 
Where judgment is required, 
But for old Indian Johnny Cake 
She truly is admired. 



Her hand has eagerly been sought 
By many lovesick swains, 
But like a heroine she has 
Dismissed them for their pains. 



But all coquets soon run their race 
And often get repaid, 
So Nabby will give up the ghost 
A poor forlorn old maid. 

Sometimes she muses on her state 
And envies married dames, 
Then ! then ! O, Cupid how she sighs ! 
To marry old John 

Now let me for a moment leave 
This interesting one. 
And take a view of Cynthia's life 
To see what she has done. 

For scenes of humor, mirth and glee 
She never was renowned, 
But in the sentimental parts 
No doubt she does abound. 

Of labor she but little does, 

But lives in ease and peace ; 

While Nabby sweats and scrubs and works. 

Their income to increase. 



Some years ago a new complaint 
Deprived her of her wits, 



348 TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS. 

Made all her friends with horror stare, 
While she went into fits. 

The cause of this affliction sore 
With truth she could not tell, 
But thought that in her stomach lay 
This new-invented hell. 

Instanter she goes right to work 
To find if aught can cure, 
And finally alights on what 
She feels convinced is sure. 

And what my friend do you suppose 
This panacea like? 

W^hy nothing more than drawing smoke 
Through a tobacco pipe. 



She fills the bowl up to the brim 
With Cavendish's best. 
At every meal she takes a whiff" 
With most delicious zest 



But it performed a glorious cure, 
Her fits entirely ceased, 
And from that time it must be told 
Her laziness increased 

Religion now is all the go, 
Religion is her cry, 
Religion while she lives, and for 
Relieion she will die. 



Many creeds of different kinds 

In turn she has embraced. 

But none save one could bind her fast, 

On this her hopes are placed. 

This is the creed which Calvin taught 
This is the faith he hailed. 
It is the genuine Orthodox 
W^hich she so latelv railed. 



With philanthropic zeal she tries 
To warm her sister's heart ; 



TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS. 349" 

To make her seek Religion now, 
And choose that better part. 

Sometimes indeed poor Nabby weeps 
At what she does not know, 
Though she'll confess that something makes 
Her feel all over so. 



Here then behold these matchless maids 
Of forty years and more ; 
Of lovely form and noble size, 
Whom all that see adore. 

A single life they've always led 
Against their hearts desire ; 
And now with panting bosoms wait 
For all who may aspire. 

Why stand ye back ye single men 
When such bright hopes arise.? 
Come choose a partner now for life. 
The idol of all eyes. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



WHITE'S FERRY YARDS. — 1705- 1840. 



SIMEON KEENE, SIMEON KEENE, JR., BENJAMIN KEENE, ISAAC 
KEENE, LUKE HALL, WILLIAM HALL, SAMUEL HALL. 



"HP HE Keenes and the Halls built at these yards for many years, 
■'■ but they were probably occupied nearly a hundred years 
prior to their time. As early as 1705 we find there was built 
in Marshfield the sloop " MARY & ABIGAIL," 40 tons ; 
owners, Bethia Little, widow, of Boston, Isaac Little, of Marsh- 
field, and John Henshaw, of Boston. In 1711, the ship 
"TAUNTON MERCHANT," 70 tons, was built at Marshfield; 
owners, James Cooks, of Cullumstock, James Norman, John 
Blake, Samuel Lucas, and John Southerton, of Taunton, Rich- 
ard Southerton of Wallington, and Joshua Norman, of Tops- 
Iiam; and in 1713 the sloop "BLOSSOM," 30 tons, was built 
at Marshfield, Joseph Flood, of Boston, owner. The al)ove 
vessels were undoubtedly built on these yards, as the next oldest 
yard in Marshfield was at Gravelly Beach. The next vessels 
built here of which any account has been found were those 
built by Simeon Keene, and later by his sons Simeon and Ben- 
jamin. Isaac Keene was also interested in a few . Benjamin 
was captain of a North River packet boat about 1820. The 
following is the genealogy of the shii)-building branch of the 
Keene famil}'^ : 

Josiah Keene mar. Hannah, dau. of elohn Dingley, and had one 
child, John, b. 1()()7. tSinwon Keene, the shipwright, was b. 
Sept. 30, 1725, andd. "of a Saturday, July the 17th day of the 
month, 1790." He mar. in 1751 Lydia Stevens, Avho was b. 
July 19, 1728. They had children: 1. Lucy, b. Nov. 18, 
1752; mar. Oliver Porter 1773. 2. Nathanael, b. Aug. 8, 



KEENE GENEALOGY. 351 

1754; 3. Ruth, b. July 31, 1756; mar. Peaboiy Little, and 
d. 1781. 4. Lydia, b. April 28, 1758. 5. Simeon, b. Nov. 
20, 1761 ; mar. Christina Joyce. 6. Stevens, b. June 24, 
1764. 7. Deborah, b. July 30, 1766. 8. Benjamin, b. Mar. 
29, 1769. 9. William, b. July 11, 1771, d. Sept. 11, 1792. 
Five of Simeon's (the ship-builder's) children survived him, 
they were Lydia, Simeon, Stevens, Benjamin and William. 
Benjamm succeeded to the yard, and carried on the business of 
ship-buildinff there. Barstow Carver, father of Hatch Cai-ver, 
worked for him at one time. Benjamin Keene was a man of 
some property, very stern and arbitrary, and did not desire too 
many friends. He married Susanna Church, and had children : 
1. Benjamin, now deceased. 2. Cornelius, who d. in Nov. 
1888, in his 89th j^ear. 3. Nathaniel, who resides in Marsh- 
field. 4. Martin, who d. April 17, 1864, aged 49 years. 5. 
William, who left a numerous family in Hartford, Conn. 6. 
George R., now living in Abington, where he has a family. 7. 
Lydia, deceased. 8. Almira, who d. in March, 1884, aged 80 
years. 9. Harriet, now living in Marshfield, and 10. Susan, 
deceased. Martin mar. and lived on Decatur St., Charles- 
town, during the latter part of his life, and was employed on 
the Charlestown Navy Yard. He left two sons and one dau. 
One son is mar. and resides in Weymouth, Mass., where he 
has two children, Mabel E. and Lillian F. The other son, 
Charles W. Keene, is unmarried and resides at Sea View Vil- 
lage, Marshfield, Mass. Ada, the dau. married a ]Mr. Rein- 
hart. She d. Nov. 11, 1876, aged 22 years, leaving one child, 
AdaK. 

Keene's yard was located on the Capt. Day place, where the 
Hall's afterward built. On this farm there is a well of fresh water 
that ebbs and flows with the tide. Simeon Ke^ne built in 1787 
the sch. "NEPTUNE," 64 tons, owned by Simeon Keene, Sr. 
and Jr., Marshfield; and in 1789 the sip. "INDUSTRY," 60 
tons ; owned by Joseph and Elisha Phillips, William Macomber, 
Joshua Vinal and Simeon Keene, Marshfield. He also built the 
following vessels : In 1793, the brio- "DOLPHIN," 122 tons, 
of Boston ; in 1794, the ship " SUPERB," 335 tons, of Boston ; 
in 1795 the brig "DESPATCH," 139 tons, of Portsmouth. The 
ship "COLUMBIAN PACKET," 220 tons, of ^Marshfield, built 
in 1802, Joseph Hunt, Adam Fish and Chandler Sampson, of 
Marshfield, owners, was probably l>uilt ]>y the Keene family. 



352 VESSELS BUILT BY THE KEENES. 

/y^U^^^ /tfj /^ URN," 107 tons, owned by Ben- 
/ • •- o/^""^-^^'^*^ jamin and Isaac Keene, and 
Samuel Baker, of Marshfield ; 
and in 1818 the sch. "EOS," 85 tons, of Boston, sold at the 
Sandwich Islands, January 25, a, d., 1820. The Keenes built 
many other vessels here, but no record has been found by 
which they may be identitied. The only other vessel of which 
we have positive proof of bavins: been built by the Keenes is 
the sloop "NORTH RIVER PACKET," 38 tons, built in 
1820. She was owned by Benjamin and Isaac Keene, Jr., 
Alden Briggs, Pembroke, Benjamin Hatch, Daniel Phillips, 
Da sad Church, Nathaniel Pratt, Luther Little, Danforthe Hall, 
John Bourne, Jr., of Marshiield. She was afterward sold to 
Boston, and owned in 1839 by John Belcher, of Bos- 
ton, and Benjamin Bramhall, of Quincy. This was doubt- 
less the last vessel built by the Keenes. Between 1820 and 
1825 no record has been found of vessels having been built 
here. In the absence of the five years history of these yards, 
a few old and interesting items, and one or two anecdotes, will 
be inserted. In the Boston Gazette and Country Journal of 
Dec. 13, 1773, is recorded the death of a Marshfield man, as 
follows : 

" Last Friday evening being very dark and rainy, Mr. Ezekiel Kent, of 
Fox Islands, formerly of Marshfield, having been on board a sloop lying 
at Minot's T, to see an acquaintance, about six o'clock, was returning to 
the vessel to which he belonged, but unfortunately fell from theT and was 
drowned. He was 27 years of age, and a man well respected." 

A most remarkable story is related in the Massachusetts 
Spy for the week of August 18th to 21st, 1770 : 

" Last Tuesday a whale about forty feet in length was discovered by a 
small fishing schooner off Marshfield, which was then attacked by three 
large sharks, one of whom the fishermen killed. It measured sixteen feet 
long, and upon opening it they took out of its paunch as many pieces of the 
whale as would make a barrel of oil, and it was thought the liver of the 
shark would make two or three barrels more. The whale was so wounded 
and worried by the sharks that it became an easy prize for the fishermen, 
who carried it into Marshfield." 

It will be seen that the men of Marshfield were alive to the 
whaling interest at that early date, and the above-mentioned 
whale probably furnished all the oil they burned during their 
short evenings for many a night. In two old papers there are 
related accounts of two very large families which are considered 
interesting enough to record here. One is taken from The 
Boston Evening Post, of April 20, 1767 : 



INTERESTING ITEMS RELATIVE TO MARSHFIELD. 353 

" About a month since was born at Gen. Winslow's farm, a daughter of 
John Fullerton, whose age is 73 3'ears, his wife's 47, the child being his 
seventeenth. He has had two daughters that are grandmothers, the one 
has had two grandchildren, and the other three; the last mentioned was 
present at the birth of her sister. Mr. Fullerton has had fifty grand and 
great-grandchildren, forty of which are now living." 

The account of the other family appears in a paper seven 
years earlier, as follows, from The Boston Gazette and Country 
Journal^ Monday, October 20, 1760 : 

" We hear from Marshfield in the County of Plymouth, that on the 2nd, 
inst., died there Mr. William Carver, aged 102 years, who retained his 
reason to the last. He was brother's son to the ancient Gov. Carver of the 
Plymouth Colony, and has left behind him the fifth generation of male 
issue in all, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great- 
grandchildren, ninety-six." 

In the same paper of a later date, (Monday, April 12, 1762), 
is the following : 

"We hear that the body of William Preston, of Dorchester, was taken 
up at Marshfield on Saturday, the 3rd, and decently interred there. He was 
drowned in September last, as we then gave an account, going home in a 
canoe from Castle William, where he had been to receive some money, 
the most of which was found loose in his pockets when taken up." 

There is a very aged man now living in Marshfield whose 
ancestors lived at White's ferry. This man is Benjamin White, 
who, at the time of writing, is prol)ably the oldest man in 
Marshfield. He is a Imeal descendant of Peregrin White, the 
first white child born in New England, and was himself born in 
Hanover, Aug. 27, 1795. Mr. Cornelius White, great grand- 
father of Benjamin, lived at W^hite's ferry. He was a ship- 
builder, and a man of considerable means in his day. He 
owned the ferry boat at one time, it is said. He had a son 
Benjamin, a Avilfui lad, who fell m love with Miss Hannah 
Decrow, a young lady of powerful build and great beauty, but 
who was not considered good enough for the son of an opulent 
shipbuilder and ferryman. This young Ben., appears to have 
been a favorite with his father, and was threatened banishment 
if he persisted in his attentions to Miss Decrow. The young 
man married her, and, it is said that true to his word, his 
father banished him to Hanover. This was about 1743, when 
Mr. White, Sr., purchased of Jeremiah and Walter Hatch 
many hundred acres of heavy timbered land on what is now 
Centre St., the old habitation being on the spot now owned by 
Frank Fish. Mr. White, Sr., gave him this valuable tract of 
territory, started him in housekeeping in great style for those 



354 MAESHFIELD. 

days, and gave him also a horse, two cows, a yoke of oxen, and 
a gundalow, which he kept at North River bridge. Mr. White, 
Jr., cut and carted his vahiable ship-timber to North River 
bridge, loaded it aboard his "gundalow," and freighted it down to 
his father's yard at the ferry. Mrs. White was a resolute, 
God-fearing woman, and, in opposition to her more worldly 
companion, she was l)ound to have her children baptized in the 
true faith, as we find by the church records of Rev. Benjamin 
Bass, dated Sept. 7, 1754, "were baptized four children of 
Benjamin White, (his wife owning the covenant), Penniah, 
Robert, Hannah and Benjamin, (the father's name), who was 
not considered in the baptism of the children." Benjamin, Sr., 
died Feb. 10, 1786, aged 65, and his wife (Miss Decrow) 
March 22, 1814, aged 94. Her son Benjamin grew to man's 
estate and married Miss Mary Chamberlin, of East Bridge- 
water, in 1780, and died in Hanover July 12, 1839, aged 88, 
and his widow March 27, 1841, aged S6. The present Benja- 
min, son of the above, inherited the estate of his parents, and 
lived there with his wife (Miss Mary Hall, of Marshfield) and 
family, until 1847, when he sold all his possessions in Hanover, 
and moved to Gravelly Beach in Marshfield. He has a son 
Benjamin F. now living in North Pembroke. John Tower 
related an anecdote in the JSTorth River Pioneer some years ago 
about " Uncle Josh " Stetson, of Hanover, on mowing, as 
follows : 

''Wal," said Uncle Josh, "I should raly like to see one young man 
more that knovved how to mow. Nobody seems to know anything about 
how to swing a scythe nowadays, and you can't find one man between here 
and Pembroke meeting house but what will tangle down more grass than 
his neck is wuth. I tried most everybody I could think of, and finally got 
a chap to help, but bless ye, he'd lop in and lop out, and 'twas more work 
by half to go over after him than 'twas to do tiie whole myself." 

•' We thought that you never wanted any one to help you mow," we 
suggested. 

" Wal, I don't; but T 'spose a man has a right to be sick once in a while, 
ain't he ? When 1 lived down to the old place they called me the best 
mower on the river, and I'd beat everybody on Sitewate side, and one 
morning when I was down side of the river fishing for parch, who should 
I see coming across the medder on t'other side, but old Marmaduke Mc- 
Donnellson. Says he ' Josh, I've got a boy ter hum that will mow round 
ye four times in half a day.' 'Fetch him down here,' says I, 'and we'll 
see.' ' Do ye mean it ? ' says he. ' Sartain,' says I, and he started for home 
arter the boy. While he was gone, (he lived way up in the south end of 
the " two-mile,") I started for home arter grandsir's scythe, and got back 
ao-in down to the river afore Mc. got along with his boy. Pretty soon I 
see him coming with his son Sam. ' Wal, Josh,' he said, • where ye goin' 
to mow ? ' ' Begin right where ye stand and go down river,' says I, ' and 



HALL GENEALOGY. 355 

the one that gets to White's ferry fust is the best feller.' That made old 
Me. look rather blue, and he said, ' Sam, Vl\ go home and get the old 
horse and wagon and a load of provisions and foller along down. Ye'U 
get mighty hungry fore ye get to White's ferry.' Wal, we struck in, and 
the way we made the grass fall was a caution. Grandsir went up on 
the hill and watched, but he told me arterwards that he couldn't see noth- 
ing but a winrow of grass flying in the air, and going at the rate of ten 
miles an hour." 

" How did you get across Stony brook ? " we inquired. 

'* Never noticed the brook at all, mowed right across it down past 
Little's bridge and Will's Island, swam across the river to the ferry, and 
stru(!k in on t'other side, and in less than two hours 1 met Sam just pulling 
himself out of Fulling mill creek." 

" That must have made about eighteen miles," we remarked. 

" Wal, yes. Always mowed nine miles an hour, could mow ten if I let 
out a link." 

We left " Uncle Josh "' sharpening his scythe for a second crop. 

But now let us return to the history of the shipbuilding at 
White's Ferry. The Halls first occupied this yard in 1825. 
They commenced huildins; near the mouth of the river but later 
moved up to the Capt. John Day place, where they had two 
yards, and sometimes two and three vessels on the stocks at 
onetime. 

Luke, William and Samuel were descendants of Adam Hall, of 
trans-atlantic birth, who came to Marshtield early in the last 
century and mar. in 1725, Sarah Sherman, a grand-daughter of 
Peregrin White, and settled in Marshfield. She died Aug. 7, 
1768^ aired 67; they had children: 1. William, b. Jan. 11, 
1726; 2. Thomas, b. July 17, 1728; 3. Adam, b. Oct. 21, 
1729; 4. Joseph, b. Nov. 6, 1733; 5. Sarah, b. Sept. 18, 
1735; ^. Jesse, b. Sept. 27, 1737; 7. Mercy, b. Sept. 12, 
1739 ; 8. Levi, b. Oct. 25, 1744. 

Adam Hall, 2d, mar. in 1752, Kezia, dau. of Samuel and Sarah 
Sarah Rogers Ford ; their children were : 1. Adam, b. Jan. 27, 
1757 ; i?."lMercy, b. Sei)t. 7, 1759, mar. Andrew Keen, April 
2. 1795; 3. Susanna, b. Xov. 8, 1761, died unmarried; 4. 
Kezia, b. Dec. 30, 1764, mar. Proctor Sampson; 5. Luke, b. 
April 20, 1767, father of the shipbuilders, mar. in 1793, Anne, 
dau. of Barnard and Experience Tuels. He died on Staten 
Island, June 28, 1815, aged 48 years; 6. Samuel, b. Aug. 3, 
1770, d. 1806. lie was Caj)tain of the North River Packet 
"Dolphin ;" 7. William, b. Aug. 28, 1774; and 8. Jesse. Of 



356 hall's shipyard. 

the other raeml)ers of the Hall family, Luke Hall mar. Jane 
Hatch of Scituate, April 26, 1763, and had children : 1. Sarah, 
b. June 30, 1764, mar. Isaac Porter, 1785; 2. Hervey, b. 
March 12, 1774. 

Of another branch, Joseph Hall, mar. Susanna , and 

had children : 1. Joseph, b. July 21, 1775 ; 2. Sarah, b. Feb. 
13, 1777 ; 3. Rachel, b. Sept. 29, 1778 ; 4. Deborah, b. Jan. 
20, 1781 ; 5. Peleg, b. Nov. 16, 1782 ; 6. John, b. May 14, 
1785; 7. Martin," b. Aug. 15,1787; 8. Luther, b. Aug. 5, 
1789; 9. Isaac Randall, b. Nov. 14, 1791. 

Of still another branch, John Hall mar. Deborah , and 

had children : 1. Abigail, b. Dec. 4, 1739 ; 2. Rhoda, b. March 
27, 1741 ; 3. Lydia ; b, March 30, 1743 ; 4. Lemuel, b. July 
15, 1747. 

The only other branches of which we have records, were 
Katharine Hall, wdio mar. Joshua Bramhall of Hingham, 1747, 
John Hall, Jr., who mar. Zilpha Crooker, 1746, and had chil- 
dren : 1. Lemuel, b. July 15, 1747 ; 2. Deborah, b. Dec. 23,, 
1748; ^. John, b. Oct. 15, 1750; 4. Francis, b. April 15, 
1752; 5. Martin, b. March 1, 1754, 6. Luther, b. Sept. 14, 
1755 ; 7. Calvin, b. Nov. 4, 1758. 

Luke, William and Samuel were sons of Luke and Anna 
Tuels Hall ; they built in Marshfield together from 1825 to 
1828, when Samuel, who was then about 28 years of age (being 
b. April 23, 1800) left the firm. He served his apprenticeship at 
Dea. Elijah Barstow's inPIanover. Luke and William continued 
in business toirethcr until 1837, from which time until 1840, Luke 
built alone. "The sch. "DRAY," was built by the Halls at the 
Ferry. In 1825, they built the sch. "DANIEL," 72 tons, of 
Marshfield ; owners, Caleb Prouty, Jr., Scituate, Jabez Hatch, 
Daniel Phillips, Luke, William and Samuel Hall of MarshficLl, 
and the same year, 1825, the sch. "TRITON," 75 tons of Dux- 
bury, of which Samuel Hall was master carpenter. The same 
year the brig "SMYRNA," 162 tons, of Boston, was built in 
Marshfield, probably at this yard. In 1827, the brig " WAV- 
ERLY," 232 tons, was built l)y Samuel Hall and sold to 
Plymouth and afterward to Salem. This was the last of Samuel 
Hall's building in Marshfield. To go back to his early life, 
when he had attained his majority, he left Barstow's Yard in 
Hanover, and with twenty-five cents in his pocket and a broad- 
axe on his shoulder he went to Medford and from there to 



hall's shipyard. 357 

Camden, Me., from which latter place he returned to Marsh- 
field. From Marshfield he went to Duxbury and built for Ezra 
Weston, with Henry Tajdor as foreman. In 1837-8, he built 
on his own account in Duxbury, and in 1839, removed to East 
Boston. In April, 1839, he commenced the work of preparing 
a ship-yard about where the end of Maverick street is now. 
The first vessel ever built in East Boston was in 1834, so he 
can be called one of the pioneers there. In 1839, he built his 
first ship there, the "Akbor ;"from then until 1860, he built 110 
vessels, some of them the largest, fastest and best ships that 
ever " skimmed the seas." Among the larijest were the " Game 
Cock," in 1851, of 1392 tons, the"" Oriental" in 1854, of 1654 
tons, the " Wizard," 1853, of 1600 tons, and the " Hiahlander," 
in 1858, of 1049 tons. While in East Boston, Samuel Hall 
became interested in much beside shipbuilding. In 1847 he 
was president of the Dry Dock Company ; he was president of 
the East Boston Ferry Company from the time of its organiza- 
tion in 1852, until it was bought by the city ; he was president 
of the Maverick National Bank, (now located in Boston) from 
its incorporation until his death, which occurred Nov. 13, 1870. 
He mar. first, Christiana Kent, no children ; 2nd Huldah B. 
Sherman, by whom he had children : 1. Huldah, died in 
infancy; 2. Samuel, b. 1833, mar. Harriet A. Lovejoy ; 3. 
Walter Scott, mar. Mary Gregory ; 4. Marcia, b. 1836, mar. 
George W. Emery, late Governor of Utah ; 5. Anna Tuels, 
died young ; 6. Huldah Augusta, died young ; 7. Amanda 
Wliite, died young; 8. Hattie G., b. 1853, mar. William A. 
Rogers. 

Few of the old ship-carpenters of North River are now living, 
but there is one residing in Marshfield who worked for the 
Halls from the time they began building ; this is Hatch Carver. 
Among the Marshfield ship-carpenters we find the descendants 
of many of the most noted men in the colony, but none perhaps 
more noted than Carver, the first Governor of the infant settle- 
ment in Plymouth in 1620. Hatch Cai-ver, b. 1812, a lineal 
descendant of the Governor is now living near Roger's Hill. He 
was the son of Barstow Carver and Lucy Hatch Carver, and 
nephew of Luke Hall. He mar. Roxanna T. Sylvester, of Marsh- 
field, afterward of Quincy. He first went to Quincy intending 
to learn the trade of blacksmithing of his father-in-law, but 
getting dissatisfied he returned to Marshfield and went to work 
for Luke Hall on the shipyard at the Ferry. After a\ orking 
for Mr. Hall for a time he went to New York city, and worked • 



358 VESSELS BUILT BY THE HALLS. 

at his trade on East River nine years, when he again returned to 
his old home and worked in the shijiyard and taking vessels 
down the river. He worked for Luke, AVilliam and Samuel 
Hall, building mostly packets to run on the river and small 
schooners, as the seh. "Daniel" and the sip. "Susan." About 
I80O, the Halls commenced building i'ov Ezra AVeston of Dux- 
bury, and a vessel for Uusscll of tiie Plymouth Iron Co. ; also 
several barks for a Connnercial Wharf Comptniy, and many for 
the Cape. Mr. Carver appears now to be taking life easy in 
apparently i-omfortablc circumslances, with all his family settled 
around him. In his younger days he was something of a sports- 
man, and some thirty to forty years ago, he in company with 
Amos AV. Cross, of Boston, a noted hunter, for nine years 
made annual trips into the wilderness of Maine hunting moose, 
bear and deer, which Mere at that time very common in many 
parts of the state. ]Mr. Carver claims to have killed the largest 
deer, (four hundred pounds) ever known to be cajitured in that 
region, it had fat two inches thick on the ribs, the antlers, 
ofunusual size, are still owned by ISlr. Carver, and show the 
mark of the first bullet, which missed. Mr. Carver has enjoyed 
perfect health all his days and has good prospects of exceeding 
his t\)ur score years. 

After Samuel Hall retired from the lirm, Luke and AVilliam 
continued shipbuilding here. They have numerous descendants 
living in Boston, East Boston, Quincy, Newtonville, Hingham 
and elsewhere. Luke and "William built in 1828 the brig, 
afterwards bark, "XEAVTOX," 2SS tons, of Boston. Jesse 
Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., of Scituate and others, owners ; in 1838, 
she was owned in New Bedford, and used whaling in the Pacitic 
Ocean. In 184o the crew nmtinied and a new crew was 
shipped at Oahu, H. I. ; in Dec, 1844. Capt. Sawyer died at 
San Diego, Cal. ; in 1854 she sent home from the Northern 
Pacitic, 140 bbls. of sperm and 600 bbls. of whale oil and 
10200 lbs. of bone. She was lost in the Ochotsk sea in 1857, 
being stove by the ice. In 1820, the brig "FLORA," 151 
tonsli^ of Boston, Avas built in Marshtield, probably by the Halls. 
They built in 1830 the brig " GEM," 1(^2 tons, of Boston ; in 
1841, she was sold and used whaling in the Atlantic. In 1851, 
she returned leaking after starting on a new voyage, making 
8000 strokes jier hour : she was withdrawn from whaling in 
1855. The " Gem" was at one time owned in Salem and used 
in the African trade. The Halls buiU, in 1831, the sip. 
"LEADER," 42 tons, a North River packet ; owned by Luther 




Brig "Norfolk," 135 tons. 
Built by the Halls, in 1833, at the Ferry. 



VESSELS BUILT BY THE HALLS. 359 

Rogers, Sr. and Jr., Stephen and Moses Rogers, Proctor 
Bourne, Jabez and Benjamin Hatch, Christopher Oakman, 
Jonathan Stetson, Wales Rogers, Luke and Wm. Ilall of 
Marshlieid, Ephraim Randall, Horace Collamore of Pembroke, 
Thos. Waterman, Joseph S. Bates, Elijah Barstow, Jr., Jos. 
Eels, Haviland Torrey, Reuben and Geo. Curtis, and Tilden 
Crooker, of Hanover ; and the same year, 1831, they built the 
brig "FAIRY," 185 tons, of Boston, of which Luke Hall was 
master carpenter. She was afterward sold to Provincetown and 
used whaling. The Halls built, in 1832, the brig "ECHO," 
197 tons, of Boston ; Luke Hall, master carpenter. The brig 
"NORFOLK," 135 tons, Avas built by Luke and WilUiam Hall, 
in the spring of 1833, and was sailed by Capt. Reuben 
Matthews in the Norfolk, Va., and Boston trade, about 1837. 
Capt. F. M. Boggs commanded her at one time, and while 
under the command of these two captains she was also in the 
St. John trade, bringing plaster and tish from St. John, and 
taking merchandise back, and she went one trip to the West Indies. 
Soon after 1837, Capt. Reuben Matthews commanded her in 
the Philadelphia, St. John and Halifax trade. In October, 
1844, she left Philadelphia under Capt. Matthews bound to 
Port Spain, Island of Trinidad, with a cargo of bread stuffs, &c., 
and never was heard from after leaving the Delaware. To 
Capt. Richard Matthew and Capt. F. M. Boggs, the writer is 
indebted for much valuable information concerning some of the 
above vessels. Many have been the pleasant cliats with Capt. 
Boggs at his office, 47 So. IVIarket street, Boston, where hangs 
a crayon picture of the brig "Norfolk." Several who have 
contributed valuable facts to this liook have passed away during 
the last 3'ear. It is to be regretted that Capt. Boggs is of the 
number. He died Jan. 19, 1889, honored and esteemed by 
hundreds of friends. He was a man of marked energy, a 
thorough seaman and an able commander. Born in New York, 
78 years ago, he was taken, while still an infant, to Nantucket, 
and there left to his own resources at an early age, his father ])erish- 
ing at sea, and his mother dying before he was beyond boyhood. 
At the age of ten he sought his fortune on the sea as cook on a 
Bermuda bound sloop. Through the various grades from cabin 
boy he pushed his way pluckily, till at the age of twenty-six he 
became a master. He was then running in the old packet line 
between Boston and Philadelphia, and afterward took command 
of the steamers on the same route. Between these commands, 
however, he was in business in Philadelphia, and was post- 



360 VESSELS BUILT BY THE HALLS. 

master at Waquoit, Mass. He was at one time partner with 
John M. Kennedy & Co. Capt. Boggs took great interest in 
the Boston Marine Society, serving as one of its trustees. He 
left a widow and three children. 

William and Lnl'e IlallhwWi the fishing schooner "DANIEL 
WEBSTP:R." In 1833 they l)uilt two vessels, the brig 
"DOVER," and the schooner "DOVER." The schooner 
"Dover" was of 87 tons, and owned by Luke Hall, the mas- 
ter carpenter, William Hall, Elijah Ames and Jabez Hatch, 
Marshtield. The brig "Dover" was of 1()6 tons and owned at 
Boston, by Luke and William Hall of Marshfield. In 1834, 
the Halls built three vessels. The first was a North River 
Packet of 36 tons, which had 24 owners as follows : The sip. 
"SUSAN," 36 tons, built by Luke and William Hall and 
owned by them and Proctor Bourne, Jabez Hatch, Israel 
Carver, Jonathan Stetson, Benjamin and Emmons Hatch, Asa 
F. Curtis, Amos Sherman, Nath. Bonney, James Hall and 
Henry Clapp, of Marshfield, Aurora W. Oldham, Horace Colla- 
more, John Holmes, Calvin Shepard, George Curtis, Ephraim 
Randall, Ezra Hatch and Alden Briggs, of Pembroke, Samuel 
Foster, Elijah Cudworth and Joseph Clapp. of Scituate. Smith 
Kent worked on the " Susan " in 1833. Mr. Kent remembers 
that in one year about this time 26 vessels came down river 
that were built on the yards above. The Halls' second vessel 
this year, 1834, was the sch., afterward brig, " DEPOSIT," 125 
tons, of Boston ; owners, liuke and William Hall, Ephraim 
Randall, Benjamin and Jabez Hatch of Marshfield, afterward 
sold to a Mr. Kent, and commanded in 1839 by Capt. Howes in 
the West India trade ; sold later to jNIr. Upton of Salem, and 
run to Para. She would sail like a witch. The last vessel built 
by the Halls this year was the sch. "UNCLE SAM," 118 tons, 
of Boston, built in 1834, Luke Hall, master carpenter. The 
brig "ESTHP:R," 135 tons, was built at Marshfield, in 1835, by 
William and Luke Hall, and owned by Fabens of Boston ; she 
was lost in a gale oft' Cape Cod al>out 1852. The Halls built in 
1836, the sch. "PLANET," 98 tons, of Scituate ; owners, Asa 
Curtis, Seth Wel)l) and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Scituate, Luke 
and William Hall, of Marshfield. She was afterward sold 
to Newport, from Avhich port she sailed and was never 
heard of after. The sch. "GRAND ISLAND," 106 tons, 
was built in Marshfield in 1835-36 of oak ; was repaired in 
1852 and owned in 1861 by Kebbin and others, Newlnirypoit, 
Capt. Reed ; and in 1874 by William Mclntyre of Camden, Me. 



THE ONLY STEAMBOAT BUILT ON NORTH RIVER. 361 

About this time William Hall went to Hingham and Luke 
Ball continued building here, and in 1837, built the sch. 
"WILLIAM HENRY," 110 tons, of Provincetown. Also in 
1837, the bark "PILOT," 199 tons, of Boston, and probably 
the sch. "JAMES FRANCIS," 101 tons of Provincetown, 
which was built in Marshfield, in 1837, and in 1838, the sch. 
"JOSHUA BROWN," 112 tons of Provincetown, from which 
port she was whalinof in 1845. In 1838, was built here the 
sch. "DANIEL FRANCIS," 113 tons, of Provincetown ; also in 
1839, the brig " PHOENIX," 150 tons, of Provincetown. The 
sch,. " ROVER " was built at the Ferry for Asa Curtis, who 
afterward sold her. Tucker in his "Maritime Geography," 
1815, says "Americans excel in shipbuilding and new ships 
form a considerable part of their export trade." In 1839, was 
built at thin yard the only steamboat ever built on JSTorth River. 
She was named for a powerful tribe of Indians, whose camping 
ground was on the Scituate bank of North River, extending 
from the Block House Yard to Union Bridge. This was the 
steamboat "Matfakees," sometimes called in her registers 
"MATTAKEESETT," 21 terns, built in 1839 by Luke Hall, 
and owned by him and Moses F. Rogers, Proctor Bourne, 
Jabez Hatch, Azel Ames, and Israel Carver of Marshfield, 
Horace Collamore, Ephraim Randall, John Holmes, of Pem- 
broke and George Curtis, of Hanover. This was virtually a com- 
pany that formed to build her. Her length was 49 feet, breadth 
14 feet, depth 3 feet, and round stern. She was built with the 
intention of using her to tow out new vessels and also packets 
up and down the river, there being then three packets running 
on the river, but they had to use too short a tow line, or rather 
the river was too crooked to permit the use of a proper tow 
line. She was in the ice nearly opposite or a little below Till 
Rock all one winter. After she proved herself a failure on the 
Tiver, she was taken to Boston and sold where she Avas used 
for towing scows, &c. She was employed for a time prior to 
Iier sale towing scows loaded with iron to the anchor works in 
Hanover, and doing some freighting business on the river. 
While on the river, Byron Simmons, George Harvey and a Mr. 
Hewitt went on her at different times. After she was sold she 
was enlarged to 43 tons, and in 1846 was owned by Cephas 
Brackett of Boston. She was rebuilt in 1849, but what finally 
became of her does not appear. The last vessel built here is 
said to have been the sch. "ORLEANS " of Orleans, 100 tons, 
used fishing in the sunuuer and coasting in the Avinter, carrying 



362 LAST VESSEL BUILT AT THE FERRY. 

grain, etc., in tlie North Carolina trade. A stone appropriately 
cut should be erected on- the site of these yards before the 
location is lost, and we hope some public spirited citizen, or 
descendant of the shipbuilders, will before it is too late, per- 
manent :j '^lark the spot where so many vessels were built. 



CHAPTER XX. 



SCITUATE HARBOR YARDS. 1650-1864. 



WILLIAM JAMES, JOHN KENT, JOB OTIS, JOHN NORTHEY, WILLIAM 
VINAL, SAMUEL KENT, ANTHONY WATERMAN, OTIS BRIGGS> 
JAMES SYLVESTER BRIGGS, BARNABAS WEBB BRIGGS, J. O. 
CURTIS, WILLIAM VINAL, JR., HENRY VINAL, WILLIAM BRIGGS, 
& CO., MELZAR S. TURNER, LUTHER BRIGGS, EDWIN OTIS, 
ANDREW COLE. 

SHIP building was probably first carried on at the Harbor by 
William James. Deane says he probably came from 
Marshfield as early as 1650, but he did not settle at the Harbor 
until 1673. He may have built here as early as 1650, but no 
proof has been found by the author of his having built any 
vessels before settling at the Harbor. He dug a dock and 
located his yard at the head of it, where Dunbar's wharf has 
since been built. The dock is still known as " Will James' 
Dock." He left no descendants of record ; his house was 
where "Young's Tavern" afterward stood. The first white 
settlers were using heavy timber at an early date, as the fol- 
lowing verdict shows : 

" 1673. Verdict that Experience Litchfield came by his death in 
attempting to cany a heavy stick of timber on board a boat at Rho- 
dolphus EeHme's landing place at Hoop pole neck, his feet slipping 
up and he falling on a plank and the timber on his head, he dying 
at his father's house the same day." 

Hoop-pole neck was near Great neck, north of the Harbor 
toward the Glades. The first drowning accident recorded as hap- 
pening at the Harbor was in 1676 : 

" Joseph Ellis at Scituate with John Vaughan and Daniel Hicks, 
Jr., going into the water at the Harbor to swim, said Joseph EUis 



364 THE EARLY FISHERIES. 

was drowned. Jury's verdict that the water in the said Harbor was 
the sole cause of his death." 

The first mill in town was a wind-mill on the northeast part 
of the 3d clifl', erected by William Gilson in 1636. The tirst 
tide mill at the Harbor was built by John Stetson, who in 1730 
purchased the Wanton Estate in Scituate. It does not 
seem out of place to record here the death of two daughters of 
a minister long settled in this town, pastor of the First church.* 
The first taken from the Postscript to Boston Evening Post, 
Jan. 15, 1759: 

"Death, on the 9th of this inst. died, & on the 11th was decently 
interred, Mrs. Bathsheba Emmes, wife of Mr. Saml Emmes, of this town, 
& youngest daughter of the Rev. Mr. Shearjashub Bourn, of Scituate, in 
the 29th year of her age. As she served God from her early youth, & 
lived a virtuous life, so she had the comfort of it when drawing near to 
death." 

And the second taken from Boston Evening Post, Feb. 11, 
1760: 

" At Scituate, the 28th of January, died with Christian resignation, Mrs. 
Desire Bailey, wife of Mr. Benjamin Bailey and daughter of the Rev. Mr. 
Shearjashub Bourn, of that town, 2Eit. 31." 

The fisheries were an early source of income to the inhabi- 
tants of the Harbor village. In 1680, Cornet Robert Stetson, 
of Scituate, and Nathaniel Thomas, of Marshfield, hired the 
Cape Fishery for bass and mackerel. In 1770 over 30 vessels 
were fitted out from Scituate. In 1828 over 15,000 barrels of 
mackerel were taken by Scituate vessels. In 1830 thirty-five 
vessels were fitted out from the Har])or for mackerel fishing in 
the summer and were employed during the winter in the lum- 
ber and grain coasting trade. Deane says that in 1830 there 
were "two regular packets from the Harbor carrying on an 
almost daily intercourse with Boston." Charles T. Torrey,f 
the martyr, in his book entitled "Home, or the Pilgrim's Faith 
Revived," written during his incarceration in Baltimore jail, 
says : 

" The Eastern border, for some twelve miles rests on the seashore. 
It is a long, rocky beach on which the surges never cease to beat, 
which has been the last sand touched by many a shipwrecked sailor, 



* See Wanton Yard Chapter. 

t See chapter Scituate Miscellaneous. 



EARLY SHIPWRECKS. 365 

and is interrupted by several high hills or cliffs. In some past 
century these cliffs were long promontories jutting out into the 
ocean waves. Storm after storm has beat upon them and now more 
than two-thirds of their soil has fallen and been washed away. 
Twenty years ago I remember riding on firm soil at a safe distance 
from the then peaceful brink of one of the cliffs, more than a hun- 
dred feet beyond the present reach of the fierce waves. And the 
huge rocks that once dotted the top, now help to break the power of 
the waters, far out from the shore. These cliffs in 1623 were cov- 
ered with the cornfields of the Indians. At the foot of them stood 
their wigwams. Near by, stands the old mansion, or its successor, 
built on the soil they gave the friendly Christian Tanner. Between 
another and a rocky headland, is our little tide harbor, giving shel- 
ter to our fishing craft and a few vessels engaged in the coasting 
trade." 

The early papers record many of these shipwrecks and 
besides the following, many are recorded under other chapters. 
From the Boston Evening .Post, Feb. 1, 1768 : 

" Last Thursday night the sip. ' Egmont,' Wm. Wilson, master, from 
the Island of St. John's, bound to this place, was cast away at Scituate ; 
the vessel lost but the people saved." 

From the Boston Evening Post, May 9, 1768 : 

" Capt. John Doubleday in a brig from the Mount, on Friday morning, 
the 15th ult., in thick weather, ran ashore on the rocks near Scituate. but 
luckily got off again but received so much damage in her bottom that they 
could scarcely keep her above water till they got into Plimouth Harbor, 
from whence after taking out part of her cargo, she came up to town last 
week." 

From the Boston Evening Post, Mon., Oct. 11, 1773 : 

" We hear that a sip. belonging to Scituate, Wm. Willson, master, bound- 
from Kennebeck to this place, loaded with lumbei", was stranded on Hamp- 
ton Beach last Saturday fe'n'night. Capt. Willson & one man and a boy 
took to a boat which soon after overset in the surf and the two former 
were drowned ; 3 other men and a woman staid on board the wreck but 
2 of them with the woman were washed off and drowned. It is said that 
a vessel was also drove ashore the same day on Plumb Island." 

Scituate Harbor offered every facility for shipbuilding 
excepting that large vessels could not be gotten over the bar, 
there being; seldom more than ten feet of water at full tide. 
The two points which form the harbor are Crow Point and 
Cedar Point. On the northeast, or Cedar Point, there is a 
light-house, now unused, which was erected in 1811. Through 
the untiring efforts of the Hon. George Lunt, the Govern- 
ment has built a breakwater from this point, and has partially 



366 VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE PRIOR TO 1700. 

dredged the harbor. Had Mr. Lunt lived and been able to carry 
out his plans of making Scituate Harbor safe for a port of 
refuge with a guiding light at its entrance the loss of life would 
have been undoubtedly much less the past year on Scituate's 
eight miles of rocky coast. In early times the shores of the 
harbor were skirted with timber to the water's edge, which 
made shipbuilding an easy matter for the early settlers com- 
pared with their descendants who had to cart timber ten and 
twenty miles. The following are some of the vessels built in 
Scituate and it is possible many of them were built at the 
Harbor. 

John Kent probably built here as early as 1700. One of his 
descendants, Samuel (referred to further on) built here a hun- 
dred years later. There was built in Scituate, in 1698, the ship 
"PROVIDENCE," 100 tons, Capt. Thomas Lillie ; owners 
Capt. John Thomas, Samuel Lillie, John Borland and Joseph 
Brigham of Boston ; also the same year, 1698, the ship "BLES- 
SING," 90 tons, Capt. Richard Lillie ; owner Sam'l Lillie of 
Boston; also the same year, 1698, the sip. "ADVENTURE," 
15 tons, Capt. Daniel Weare ; owner Peter Butler of Boston. 
In 1699 the sip. "JAMES & THOMAS," 30 tons, was built 
at Scituate ; owners, James Pitts, merchant, and Thomas Sav- 
age of Boston, also the same year, 1699, brig't'n " SWANN," 
45 tons ; owners, Joseph Jackson, William Clarke, Richard 
Middlecott, John Eyre, Thomas Cooper and George Hallett, 
all of Boston; also in 1699, sip. "MARY & ABIGAIL," 30 
tons, Capt. Thomas Newman ; owners John Foster and Dame 
Mary Phips of Boston ; and also in 1699, Brig^t'n "SPEED- 
WELL," 50 tons, Capt. Thomas Simpkins ; owner, Samuel 
Lillie of Boston. 

Job Otis succeeded William James at his yard. The only 
vessel there is positive proof of having been built by Job Otis 
was in 1700, referred to in the following oath made Oct. , 1700: 

"Isaac Litde, of Marshfield, in the Province of Massachusetts 
Bay, in New England, made oath that the Katch ' LITTLE OTIS,' 
of Scituate, within the said Province, whereof Samuel Prince is at 
present master, being a round sterned Vessel of the burthen of about 
Thirty Tons, was built at Scituate aforesaid, in this present year 
1700, And that jfob Otis^ of said Scituate, together with him the 
said Isaac Little, are at present owners thereof, and that no forreigner, 
directly or indirectly, hath any share or part or interest therein 

Sworne before William Stoughton, Esq., Lieutenant Gov. &C.5 
& William Payne, Deputy Collector." 



VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE EARLY IN 1700. 367 

There was also built at Scituate in 1700 Brig't'n '^ UNITY," 
60 tons, Capt. Samuel Simpkins ; owner, Samuel Lillie. The 
Northeys were also interested in Scituate vessels if they did 
not build at the Harbor themselves. John Northey came from 
Marblehead in 1675, and has descendants now living in Scit- 
uate. The following is a copy of an oath taken by him : 

"January 2nd, 1700. John iVorZ/^^jK, of Scituate, in Province 
Massachusetts Bay, in New England, made oath that the Katch 
"SARAH'S ADVENTURE," of Scituate aforesaid, whereof John 
Horton, Jr . , is at present master, being a round sterned Vessel * * * of 
40 tons, was built at Scituate aforesaid in the year 1699, and that David 
Jacob, Nathaniel Tilden, Joseph Otis and David Northy, all of 
Scituate, and Samuel Lillie of Boston, * * * * together with the 
said John Northy, are at present owners thereof * * * * sworne 
before me, William Stoughton, Lt. Gov., &c., & William Payne, 
Dep Coll." 

A ketch or " katch " as they used to spell it, was always a 
small vessel rigged something like a sloop, with one or two 
masts, very much like the modern yacht. There was built 
at Scituate (possibly at the Harbor) the following vessels. In 
1700 the brig't'n "AMITY," 25 tons; owners, John Frizell, 
merchant, and John Ruck, of Boston; in 1701, brig't'n 
"SWANN," 60 tons ; owners, Capt. Thomas Parker and Samuel 
Lillie, of Boston; and the same year, 1701, the ship "JOHN 
& ELIZABETH," 70 tons; Capt. Thomas ChiHy ; owner, John 
Frizell, Boston. Also in 1701, the bark " DRAGON," 65 tons ; 
owners, Capt. John Ruggles, John Devin and George Robin- 
son, of Boston, and William Smith, of Charlestown. In 1702, 
the brig't'n " DRAGON," 40 tons, Capt. John Jinkins ; owner, 
Samuel Lillie; and the same year, 1702, the sloop "INDUS- 
TRY," 40 tons, Capt. Thomas Barnes ; owners, James Barnes 
and Elisha Bennet, Boston ; and the same year, 1702, brig't'n 
"FRIENDS' ADVENTURE," 50 tons ; owners, Captain Jona- 
than Evans and Samuel Lillie, Boston ; and also the same year, 

1702, brig't'n "JOHN," 40 tons, Capt. John Gurny ; owner, 
John Frizell, Boston. In 1703, the brig't'n " CHARLES," 30 
tons ; owner, John Frizell, of Boston ; and the same year, 

1703, the brig't'n " SEA FLOWER," 60 tons ; ownei-, Samuel 
Lillie of Boston; also in 1703, the brig't'n "SPEEDWELL 
FRIEND," 20 tons ; owners, David Northey and Samuel 
Noilhey, Jr., and John Northy of Scituate ; and the same vear, 
1703, the sloop "ENDEAVOR," 36 tons; owner, Sa'muel 
Marshall, of Boston. In 1705 was built the brig't'n "THREE 



368 VESSELS BUILT BY WILLIAM VINAL. 

SISTERS," 90 tons ; owners, Daniel Oliver, merchant, and 
Nathaniel Oliver, of Boston. In 1706, the sloop " DOVE," 30 
tons; owners, John Foster, Esq., Gilbert Bant, John Eustice, 
and William Cole, of Boston. For the next seventy years the 
records of shipbuilding are missing, therefore the history of 
shipbuilding for those years will remain nearly blank unless the 
British Government sees tit at some future time to return the 
valuable papers they confiscated at the time of the Revolution. 
It was probably by some oversight that the records from 1675 
to 1715 were left. The next earliest records we have found of 
vessels that were built in Scituate, and probably at the 
Harbor, are the following : 1780, sch. "HANNAH," 27 tons, of 
Cohasset ; owners, Nehcmiah Manson, of Cohasset, Ignatius 
Vinal, and Luther Holbrook, of Scituate. In 1785 the brig 
"FAME," 140 tons, of Boston; and the same year, 1785, the 
sch. "PATTY," 56 tons, of Newburyport. In 1795, the sch. 
" SOPHIA," 67 tons, of Boston. In 1796, the sch. "INDUS- 
TRY," owned bv James Little and others, of Scituate. In 
1797, the sch. "LIVELY," 2S tons ; owned by Joseph Jen^ 
kins, at Scituate. In 1798, the sch. " LUCY," 39 tons ; owned 
by James Lither and Jedediah Little, and Israel Merritt, 
of Scituate. The same year, 1798, the sch. "POLLY," 39 
tons^ of Boston ; owned by Jane and Nathaniel Waterman, of 
Boston, Nathaniel Wade, Jr., Nathaniel Turner, Jr., and 
Nathaniel Baker, of Scituate. In 1800 the sch. " HARRIOTT," 
60 tons, owned by Lemuel and Levi Vinal, and Consider Mer- 
ritt, of Scituate ; afterward sold to Bowdoinham. In 1801 
sch, "ELIZA," 99 tons, of Boston. 

William Vinal (whose son William built here later) built 
vessels at Scituate harbor as early as 1786. He was also 
largely interested in the fisheries. Major William, as he was 
called, was a son of Israel, Jr., and a descendant of widow 
Anna Vinal, who was in Scituate as early as 1636, with three 
children. William afterward projected a settlement at Quincy 
Point. Among the vessels he built at the Harbor are the fol- 
lowing : 1786, sch. "SALLY," 54 tons; owners, Nathaniel 
Wade, Jr., Thomas Mann, Barnabas Webb, Stephen and Wil- 
liam Vinal, Scituate. 1793, sch. " POLLY," 52 tons ; owners, 
Nehemiah Manson and William Vinal, shipwriijht. 1794, sch. 
"FANNY," 67 tons, of Scituate; Elijah and ^Oliver Jenkins, 
and William Vinal, Jr., Scituate, owners. 1795, sch. "BET- 
SEY," 35 tons, of Scituate: William Vinal, owner. 1796, 
sch. "SALLY," 54 tons, of Scituate ; Samuel Curtis, Deborah 




Rough plan of Scituate Harbor. 
(Figure references at the end of the book.) 




SAMUEL KENT, SHIPBUILDER. 369 

Mann, Barnabas Webb, Stephen and William Vinal, owners. 
1796, sch. "LYDIA & POLLY," 102 tons, of Scituate ; James 
Little, Oliver and Elijah Jenkins, and William Vinal, own- 
ers. 1797, sch. " FISH HAWK," 46 tons, of Scituate, Charles 
Ellms, Levi and William Vinal, owners. 1798, sch. "BET- 
SEY," 60 tons, of Scituate. Nehemiah Manson, Lemuel and 
William Vinal, owners. 1800, sch. "ROVER," 89 tons; 
owners, Nehemiah Manson, James Collier, William Vinal, Ira 
Bryant, Cushing Otis, of Scituate, and others. She afterward 
hailed from Boston, was changed from a schooner into a brig in 
1804, and on Feb. 14, 1811, at Boston, was ordered to be sold 
for the payment of seamen's wages. In 1800 sch. "LIBERTY," 
88 tons, of Scituate, Charles Ellmes, David Otis, Lemuel and 
WiUiam Vinal, owners. 

built more vessels than any 
one else at the Harbor dur- 
ing the first part of this 
century. His yard was lo- 
cated on the creek or inlet near the mouth of Satuit Brook, 
which was then quite clear and deep. It was on the Harbor 
side of the creek, and not far from the " Old Tavern House," 
which is still used for a public house. His residence stood on 
the present site of Mr. Film's grocery store. The first bridge 
over Satuit brook was built prior to 1648. This stream, for 
which the town was named, is scarcely a mile in length, and 
falls into the creek at the Harbor. The early settlers found 
beaver dams across it. East of the Harbor the territory was 
called Little Marsh in 1636. From the Boston Evening Post, of 
May 20, 1771, is taken an item relative to the Kent family, but 
not this immediate ])ranch. 

"Last Tuesday died Mr. Samuel Kent, of Charlestown, in the 57th year 
of his aofe, whosn death (on aecount of his remarkable diligence, upright- 
ness and goodness in the public as well as the private affairs of his life), is 
very justly regretted by all who knew him." 

Samuel Kent, the shij)l)uilder of Scituate was a descendant 
of John Kent, of Dedham. After much time and labor amonof 
the Dedham church, town, and other records, and the same 
records of Charlestowii Cambridge, Boston and Scituate, the 
following genealogy has been compiled : 

KENT GEXEALOGY. 

The first of this name we find in New England is " Jo. Kent, 



370 KENT THE FIRST OF THAT NAME IN NEW ENGLAND. 

aged 23, sailed from London in 1635 in the ship 'William co 
John,' l)ound to St. Christopher."* 

The next earliest accounts of the Kent family are found in 
the "Dedham Records of Church and Cemetery," and the 
"Dedham Records of Births, Marriages, etc." Joshua Kent 
was in Dedham in 1643. He was admitted into the church there 
in Sept., 1644. In November, 1644, he went to England, the 
church records say, " with our testimonial!." He returned 
from England in 1645, bringing with him two brothers, one of 
whom was Jolin^ the direct or common ancestor of Samuel 
Kent, the shipbuilder, and the others of that name in Scituate 
and Marshfield. There was born to Joshua Kent, and Mary, 
his wife, Dec. 17, 1646, a dau., whom they named Lydia. 
Joshua became a freeman in 1646. In October, 1647, "for 
reasons not well satisfying his friends or church," accompanied 
by his wife, he went back to England, where he found the 
government in a very unsettled condition, trouble "having again 
arisen." Becoming disheartened at the convulsions of his 
native land, he and his wife returned again to Amei-ica in Octo- 
ber, 1648. Another child was born to them Jan. 27, 1650, 
whom they named Sarah. A third dau., Mary, was born Oct. 
10, 1651. Mary Kent, deceased, Nov. 28, 1676 ; but whether 
it was the mother or child the records do not state. 

John Kent, I., bro. of Joshua, was received into the church at 
Dedham, May 16, 1652. He was a freeman in 1654, and 
mar. March 21, 1662, Hannah Grizold (also found recorded as 
Grizwold and Grissell.) She died in Charlestown, Mass., 
January 9, 1690-1. They removed to Charlestown, where 
they were admitted to the church April 13, 1663. Their 
children were, I. Hannah, b. July 2, 1667 ; mar. Joseph 
Cahoon. II. John. HI. Mary, b. Feb. 3, 1669-70. IV. 
Joshua, b. June 15, 1672, d. soon. V. Joshua, baptized July 
5, 1673, afterward of Boston. VI. Joseph, baptized October 
17, 1675, (mar. Rebecca Chittenden.) VII. Samuel, b. Mar. 
23, 1678, d. aged 25 years. VIII. Ebenezer, b. Aug. 18, 
1680, afterward of Scituate. IX. Lydii, b. July 16, 1683. 
X. Mary, b. May 12, 1686. XI. Susan.i, b. Aug. 13, 1689. 

John II., son of John I., mar. Dec. 22, 1692, Sarah Smith. 
They had children born in Charlestown. 1. Sarah, b. Oct. 



*" Emigration to America, by Hotten." 



KENT GENEALOGY. 371 

11, d. Dec. 24, 1693. 2. John, b. Sept. 29, 1694, baptized 
in Cambridge. 3. Hannah, b. Mar. 5, 1695-6, baptized in 
Cambridge. 4. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 8, 1697-8, baptized in 
Cambridge; d. in Scituate Jan. 8, 1702. In 1698, John, the 
father, and Sarah, his wife, removed to Scituate, where the 
following children were born to them, 5. Ebenezer,* b. May 
28, 1699, who mar. in 1728, Huldah Whittemore, and in 1738 
was captain of S. Henley's Snow, "Eebecca." 6. Benjamin K., 
b. Jan. 8, 1701. 7. Sarah, b. Sep. 10, 1702. 8. Samuel, b. 
Dec. 18, 1703. 9. Ezekiel, b. Oct. 8, 1705. 10. Nathaniel, 
b. Feb. 18, 1708. This family removed from Scituate to 
Marshfield about 1709-10, and accounts of some of their fam- 
ilies can be found in this book at the end of the history of the 
Scituate branches, f 

Ebenezer VHL, bro. of John H., and son of John I., went 
from Charlestown to Scituate where he married in 1703, Han- 
nah Gannett. They had children: 1. Abigail, b. Oct. 12, 
1706; d. March 12, 1709; 2. Mercy, b. July 31, 1708; 3. 
Elizabeth, b. Sept. 6, 1710. 4. Isaac, b. Sept. 27, 1712. 5. 
Mary, b. 1715. 6. Ebenezer, b. 1717. We will now go back 
to 

Joseph, 6, son of John I., mar. Nov. 26, 1702, Rebecca 
Chittenden of Scituate (mar. by Rev. Mr. Cushing). She d. 
Apr. 2, 1762, in her 81st year. He d. May 30, 1753. By his 
will, probated June 30, 1753 % ; he devised to his wife the use 
of all his estate except that given to Samuel. He gave his 
negroes, "Peggy to Mehetabel, Venus to Rebecca, Jenny to 
Benjamin and Violet to Stephen." 

Joseph and Rebecca (Chittenden) Kent had children : I. 
Joseph, b. Mar. 5, 1703-4, afterward of Boston, gentleman. § 



*For descendants see Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown," K to Z, p. 571. 

t" On 20th of May, in the year of our Lord 1700, John Kent, of Sittuate, brought to 
record a stray horse, as he sayd.of a darke bay coler, with two notches or peeces cutout 
of the near eare towards the top on each side one, said beast being taken damag feasant 
in Inclosures." — Sci uate Records. 

JSee Genealogies & Estates of Charlestown, K to Z, p. 572. 

^WILL OF JOSEFH KENT. 
In the name of God Amen I Joseph Kent of Boston in ye County of Suffolk & 
Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England Gent'n do make and ordain this 
my last will & testament & I do hereby give and bequeath all my estate l)Oth real and 
personal that I now have or hereafter may have as wages prize money &c due or that 
shall become due from any person or persons whatever to ray brother Benjamin Kent 
of Boston atoresaid Uent'n his heirs & assigns and I do hereby nominate and appoint 



372 KENT GENEALOGY. 

11. Stephen, b. June 14, 1706. III. Benjamin. IV. Mehet- 
abel, b. Aug. 26, 1711, mar. Jotham Tuttle. V. Samuel, b. 
July 18, 1714, mar., Nov. 27, 1740, Eebecca Adams. VI. 
Jonathan, b. Mar. 29, 1717, afterward of Boston, gentleman. 
VII. David, b. June 1, 1719. VIII. John, b. Sept.' 24, 1722. 
IX. Rebecca, b. May 6, 1725, mar. Eben Rockwell. 

Benjamin Kent, of Boston, gentleman, who was attorney for 
David in 1749, and probably his brother and son of Joseph 
VI., mar. Elizabeth, dau. of Jacob Hassey, and had children: 

1. Elizabeth who mar. Jiutman. 2. Sarah, mar. 

Blowers. 3. Benjamin who appears to have gone away and all 
trace of him was lost, possibly forever. Benjamin, Sr., and 
wife Elizabeth removed to Halifax, N. S., soon after or about 
the time of the Revolution. On April 15, 1785, he being 
about to visit Boston, leaving his wife and children in Halifax, 
deeded a certain messuage or dwelling-house in Boston in trust 
to Samuel Danforth, M.D., of Boston, to make use of for the 
support, etc., of his wife and children. This dwelling-house 
was formerly the residence of Benjamin, and was situated "at 
the north side of King street by the north end of the Town or 
Court House." Benjamin d. prior to 1794. His wife was 
residing in Halifax in 1808. 

David 7, son of Joseph 6, mar., in 1744, Abigail Damon, 
who survived him, and who notwithstanding the restrictions in 
her husband's will,* mar., 2ndly, a Mr. King. David probably 



him ye said Benjamin the sole executor of this my last will & testament In witness 
whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seal this twenty-ninth day of April Anno 
Domini seventeen hundred & forty-six 

sig. seal'd published & declared 1 

in presence of \ Joseph Kent (seal.) 

Henry Venner, Eben'r Rockwell, Thos. Goldthwaitt J 

Probated Jany. 6, 17.')8. 

Letters granted to Benj. Kent Jany. 6, 1758. 

See Probate Records, Suffolk Co., Vol. 53, page 54 & 55. 

* WILL OF DAVID KENT. 

In ye name of God Amen, I, David Kent of Boston in ye County of Suffolk in New 
Eno-laiid Cooper do hereby make this my last will & testament hereby revoking all other 
& former Will or Wills and testaments hcretoiure by me made & being of sound mind 
& memory do dispose of all my estate bucli real & personal in ye following manner and 
effect. But Imprimis I restore my soul to my Almighty God & Father who has l)lessed 
me with ye same and depend on his infinite goodness & mercy for my present and eter- 
nal future felicity and my body I resign to ye grave to be decently inttr'a by my exec- 
utrix hereinafter named. Item, the use & improvement of all my real & personal 
estate I give and bequeath to my loving wile so long as she shall continue my widow. 
Item I give and bequeath severally to my sons David & Joseph Kent, Fifty pounds to 
be paid to each of them by my Executrix hereinafter to be mentioned as they shall sev- 



KENT GENEALOGY. 



373 



left Charlestown early and followed his trade of cooper in Bos- 
ton as in the Boston Town Records, 1742-1757, we find that 

" At a Town Meeting held in Boston. Mar. i6, 1743, Mr. David 
Kent and six others were chosen cullers of staves for the year 
ensuing," and " At a Town Meeting, held Mar. 22, 1743, Mr. David 
Kent a*nd eight others were chosen cullers of staves and hoops for 
the year ensuing." 

He had l)y his wife Ahigail two sons : I. David. II. 
Joseph, hoth minors at the time of the death of their father in 
1760. Their mother Abigail was appointed their guardian in 
1762, David then being "above 14 years of age." David, Sr., 
and wife Abigail resided at the north end of Boston, corner of 
Ship (afterward called Fore) street and Battery Alley (so 
called) in a two-story house "all wooden except a l)rick back," 
which he bought May 10, 1743, paying therefor £93, 15s. 
Wyman, in his Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown, K to 
Z, page 573, states that David, Sr., removed to Philadelphia, 
but from what source he received this information the author 
has been unable to ascertain. Certainly at the time of his 
death, David owned the property on Ship street and his widow 
resided there for many years. We will give Joseph's family 
first, then David's. 



erally attain to the age of twenty-one years notwithstanding ye use and improvement 
aforesaid. Item, in case my said wife Abigail Kent should intermarry toith any man 
after my decease my loill it and I do thereupon give bequeath and devise to my son David 
one third part of my real antl personal estate to him and his heirs to have and to hold 
to him and them immediately upon and forever after his attaining to ye age of twenty- 
one years. Item one other third part of my real and personal estate (on such mtermamage 
as aforesaid) I hereby give bequeath "and devise to my son Joseph Kent to him and to his 
heirs to have and to hold to him and them immediately upon and forever after his attain- 
ing to ye age of twentv-one years. Item the other third part of my real & personal 
estate after my said wife's decease I do hereby give bequeath and devise to my said sons, 
the one'mnietii to my son David and his heirs and ye other moiety of said third to my 
son Joseph and his heirs forever. Item, my loving tvife Abigail Kent I appoint ye sole 
executrix to this my last will and testament. In Testimony of all which I have here- 
unto set my hand and seal this uiaeteenth day of April A.D. 17"i9 

•^ DAVID KENT, (seal) 

sign'd seal'd, publish'd 

pronounc'd and declar'd 

to be my last will & testament 

in presence of ye subscribers 

William Thomas, Rebecca Rockwell. Jonathan Kent. 

Suffolk S.S. By ye Hon'ble ThomasHutchinson, Esq. Judge of Probate &c. The within 
written will lieing presented for probate by ye executrix therein named, William Thomas 
& Rebecca Rockwell made oath that they saw David Kent, the subscriber to this instru- 
ment sign the same and also beard him publish & declare it to l)e his last will & testa- 
ment & that when he so did he was of sound disposinsr mind and memory according to 
these deponents' best discerning and that they tosettier with Jonathan Kent (since 

deceased) set to their hands as witnesses thereof in the said Testators presence. 

Boston March 7, 1760, THOMAS HUTCHINSON. 

Probate office. See Bk 56 p. 279 (1760) 



374 KENT GENEALOGY. 

JosErii II, 8on of David 7 was mar. to Mary, or Polly Clark, 
Oct. 24, 17G8, by Rev. John Lathrop. Joseph d. prior to 
1789. The Massachusetts Magazine records the death of a 
Mary Kent, Aug. 1, 1789. They had children: 1. Joseph. 

2. John who succeeded to their father's interest in the estate, cor- 
ner of Ship street and Battery (or Daggett's) Alley, which they 
still held in 1806, and also property on Prince street. Joseph, 
who was a cooper, was mar. to Hannah Trask, Oct. 18, 1795, 
hy Rev. Jeremy Belknap ; John, also a cooper, was mar. to 
Eunice Trask, Oct. 27, 1799, by Rev. Thomas Baldwin; both 
Joseph and John were residents of Boston in 1813. 

David I., son of David 7, mar. Lydia Damon in 1773. He 
was a shipwright l)y trade, and pro])ably built at Scituate 
Harbor, and possibly in Boston as he and his wife are spoken 
of in a deed dated 1797 as "of Boston." In 1789 he owned 
one undivided half of a dwelling house, located at the North 
end of Boston between Clark's and Hartt's building yards, near 
the North Battery, and on the corner of Ship street and Dag- 
gett's alley. This location suggests that he might have been 
a shipwright on one of the above yards. He d. in 1825. 
Lydia, his wife, died in Scituate, Dec. 12, 1831, aged 82. 
They had children : 1. Samuel the shipbuilder. 2. Sally, 
mar. Thomas Lapham ; shed. Mar. 11, 1821, aged 40 years. 

3. Rachel, mar. Perkins Clapp. 

Samuel I., the shipbuilder, son of David I., mar. Hannah, 
dau. of Capt. Noah Brooks (who was b. in 1744, and d. at 
sea). She also had a bro., Capt. Noah of South Boston, and 
two sisters : one mar. William Bradford of Kingston ; the 
other mar. the Hon. John Holmes of Maine. Samuel Kent 
resided at Scituate Harbor for many years, where he built ves- 
sels. An account of his business here is given in this chapter. 
Later he and his family removed to South Boston, Init he after- 
ward returned to Scituate, where he d. Aug. 5, 1829, aged 
56 years. Samuel and Hannah Kent had children : 

1. Charlotte Appleton^ b. Jan. 12, 1800, d Jan. 3, 1885. 
She mar., June 12, 1820, Ivory Hall of Alfred, Me. He d. 
April, 1873. Children : 1. Ivory Bradford, b. March 7, 1821, 
mar. Phebe L. Nason, Dec. 5, 1847. He d. April 16, 1856, 
leaving children : 1. William Bradford, b. April 11, 1849, who 
mar. Lizzie Newhall, and resides in Portland, Oregon, where 
they have four children : Bradford, Ada, Hubert and Chester, 



KENT GENEALOGY. 375 

and, 2, Noah Brooks, b. July 31, 1853, who is mar., and also 
resides in Portland, Oregon, where he has two children, Flor- 
ence and Ernest. 2. Hannah Francis, b. Jane 4, 1<S25, d. 
Aug. 22, 182(3. 3. Charlotte Appleton, b. Mar. 5, 1829, mar. 
James L. Emerson, July 3, 18(15, and resides in Alfred, Me., 
where they have two children : ^lary Lottie, b. Jan. 12, 1867, 
and Fannie Hall, b. May 29, 1870. 4. Charles Henry, b. May 
7, 1831, mar. Lizzie M. Marston, Feb. 7, 18G(>. They reside in 
South Boston, and have had six children : L. Gertrude, b. Feb. 

19, 1867; Charles Bradford, b. Mar. 16, 1869; Lillian May, 
b. Aug. 22, 1871; Frank Ivory, b. Oct. 1, 1873; Nettie 
Estelle, b. Dec. 1, 1875 ; Florence Appleton, b. May 15, 1879, 
d. July 19, 1880. 5. Rachel Francis, b. Sept. 15, 1835, mar. 
Benjamin Parker, Aug. 29, 1877, and resides in Somerville, 
Mass. 6. Hannah Brooks, b. July 21, 1838, d. June 5, 1839. 
7. Edward Kent, b. Mar. 28, 1840; d. Aug. 15, 1884. 

2. Hannah Williams, b. Oct. 14, 1801, mar. Alpheus 
Stetson, Dec. 4, 1819. They had eight children : 1st. Alpheus 
M., b. Sept. 21, 1820, mar.\Sophia B. OsI)orn of So. Boston, 
Oct. 7, 1842, and had three children: I.John Alpheus, b. 
July 28, 1844, mar. Julia Van Veighton of Rome, N. Y., June 

20, 1866, children: John Alpheus, Jr., b. Feb. 2, 1868; 
Archie, b. June, 1869, d. July, 1869 ; Herbert Osborn, b. June 
3, 1871 ; Sophia Lawson, b. Aug., 1876, d. April, 1877 ; Wil- 
liam Gray don, b. Feb. 18, 1878; 2. Frances Sophia, b. Dec. 
11, 1847, d. Sept. 8, 1848; 3. Herbert Osborn, b. Sept. 7, 
1850, d. March 2^, 1872. 2d. Daniel F. W., b. Sept. 15, 
1823, d. May 16, 1825. 3d. Edward F., b. June 18, 1826, d. 
Nov. 15, 1829. 4th. Hannah Elizabeth,* b. Nov. 7, 1828, mar. 
Harrison O. Briggs. 5th. Edward F., 2nd, b. March 23, 1830, 
d. Oct. 27, 1830. 6th. Sarah W., b. Aug. 15, 1833, mar. 
Joseph F. Baker of Boston, Oct. 11, 1854, children: 1. 
Frances Josephine, b. Oct. 2, 1855, mar. Henry Hunt Arnold 
of Boston, Sept. 19, 1877 ; 2. Annah Williams, b. Jan. 9, 
1858, mar. Charles Everett of Boston, June 15, 1882. She 
has one child: Charles, b. Oct. 11, 1883. 3. Alpheus Stet- 
son, b. Feb. 6, 1860, mar. Martha E. Alden of Newton, Sept. 
29, 1887. He has one child : Frances Josephine, b. Oct. 13, 
1888. 4. Grace Sears, b. May 15, 1867. 7th. Franklin J., b. 
Apri 15, 1839, d. March 2S, 1841. 8th. Mary Adelaide, b. June 



* For Genealogy of her family see Chapter on Briggs "Yard. 



376 KENT GENEALOGY. 

25, 1843, mar. George F. Neale ; Oct. 3, 1865, children : Geo. 
S., 1). Oct., d. in Sept., 1866; MaryH., b. Sept., 1869; Alice 
K. and Forence, b. Jan., 1875, (Florence deceased) ; Lawrence 
I., b. July 1885. 

yf -v/^ b. Sept. 12, 

Boston, 2nd, Elizabeth Tripp Baker of Dorchester, Nov. 24, 
1831. By his second wife he had children : 1. Samuel Henry, 
b. Sept. 14, 1832, mar. Maggie McCrea, Dec. 25, 1859, mar. 2nd, 
Mary J. Biggs, widow of Lee, and resides in San Fran- 
cisco, Cal., no children. 2. John Hawes Bird, b. Oct. 1, 
1835, mar. Sarah E. Shaw of Boston, April 5, 1877, and they 
have one child, John Henry, b. Dec. 14, 1878. 3. Edward 
Francis, b. June 20, 1842, d. Jan. 4, 1823. 

4. Kachel Clapp, b. Oct. 21, 1805, d. April 1, 1858. She 
mar. Ubert L. Pettingill, and they had children : 1. Charlotte 
Kent, b. March 6, 1838, mar. Edward L. Goodwin ; 2. Susan 
Jane Adams, b. Sept. 24, 1840, mar. 1st, Truman Flint; 2nd 
Curtis C. Goss ; 3. Hannah Brooks, b. Aug. 7, 1842, mar. 
Edward R. Taylor; 4. Frances, b. Nov. 29, 1844, mar. James 
Mackey; 5. Ubert Kalloch, b. June 2, 1848. All the above 
have descendants excepting Ubert K. 

5. NoAii Brooks, b. in 1806, a shii)wright, d. Jan. 19, 1861, 
in Augusta, Me., aged 55 years. He mar. Elizal)eth Films, 
dau. of Josiali Dunham. f She w^as b. 1815, and d. in 1838, 



* His correct name was Sam'l Kinsj Kent, but he dropped the Kin^, he said to show 
his aversion to a king. He was a shipwright, and liuilt in 182o, at Boston, the sch. 
"Newcomb," 46 tons, for Lot Wheelwright, Loring Newcomb, Joseph Cotton, Jr., and 
Chas. Appleton. 

t Simons, in his History of South Boston, p. 271, says: "Prominent among those 
who have been for a long time identified with the interests and history of South Boston, 
stands the well known name of Josiah Dunham. He was born in New Bedford, March 
11, 1775. He was son of Jesse and Susan Dunham. His father was a sea captain. The 
family were among the earlier settlers of Plymouth, the first record of whicii goes back 
as far as the year 1635. The branch from which he descended subsequently moved to 
Martha's Vineyard. When a j'outh he came to Boston and served an apprenticeship at 
the rope making business with'a Mr. Richardson, the father of the Hon. Jeffrey Richard- 
son, of Boston, whose ropewalks extended from Purchase street to Milk street, near to 
the present location of Pearl street. He first commenced the manufacture of cordage on 
his own account in a ropewalk which stood on or near Boyiston street ia Boston. In 
the year 1807, he became the purchaser of several acres of land at South Boston in the 
vicinity of B street and built a residence for himself and a ropewalk, where lie continued 
to carry on the cordage maniitacture until the close of the year 1853. During all the 
years of his residence in South Boston he was engaged in the building of dwellings and 



KENT GENEALOGY. 



377 



aged 23 years. They had children: 1. Mary Ann, b. April, 
1832, in So. Boston, d. in 1847, aged 15 years; 2. Sarah 
Elizabeth Ellnis, b, Sept. 22, 1834, near Bryant's corner, Scit- 
uate, where Noah B. Kent and family resided for one year, 
when they returned to So. Boston. She mar. Nov. 15, 1858, 
Lloyd Brio:o:s. (For Genealogy of this family see chapter 
XVII.) 

6. Barker B.,b. in 1811, a ship-joiner, mar. Sarah H., dau. 
of Josiah Dunham and sister of Elizabeth, wife of his brother 
Noah Brooks Kent. Barker d. June 27, 1876. Sarah, his 
wife, d. Nov. 7, 18S8. They had children: i. by adoption, 
Barker B. (formerly Nathaniel Tuttle) a physician, b. Aug. 
26, 1841, d. Feb. 2, 1872. He mar. Helena M., dau. of Capt. 
Ezra H. Baker of So. Boston, and they had one child, Sarah 
Helena, b. Aug. 1, 1871, d. Feb. 2, 1872. 

7. Sarah Ann, b., Feb., 1812, mar. in So. Boston, Benja- 
min, son of Elisha James, M.D., of Scituate. Children: 1. 
George Barker, b. July, 1837, mar. Adelaide G. Washburne 
and has four children : George B., William G., Robert K. and 
Addie. 2. Elisha Francis, b. Jan. 3, 1841, mar. Elizabeth 
Sears, and has four children, Edward S., Elisha F., Sarah A. 



stores, and, without erecting a large number in any one year, in the aggregate he wa8 
the moving spirit in the erection of more buildings in the place than any other man. 
Though he did not have the advantage of early education, yet for foresight, energy, per- 
severance and power of memory, he had few superiors. He was impulsive, ea^ily excited, 
and an injury, real or supposed, was not soon forgotten. On the other baud his friend- 
ships were strong, his benefactions generous and long continued, and he would often do 
favors to others even to his own injury. He was an active participator in the clFurts for 
building the North Free Bridge, and was untiring in his zeal for whatever promised to 
be of advantage to the place of his chosen residence. He served the Twelfth ward in the 
Common Council in tlie year 1833, and for three succeeding years was an efficient mem- 
ber of the Board of Aldermen. While a meuilier of the latter Board he felt a deep 
interest in the grading of the streets of South Boston, but few of which previous to that 
time had been put in a respectable condition. Finding his associates in the Board 
rather slow in their movements in this work he followed the example of one of whom he 
was an ardent supporter and in his capacity as one of the Surveyors of the Highways 
'took the responsibility.' He set men to work in ploughing down and levelling up 
Fourth street and Broadway. When completed he carried the bills for the same, 
amounting to some $2500, before the Aldermen, who with some shrugs of their shoulders 
and a few smiles at the boldness of the act of their associate, approved the bills and 
ordered their payment by the city. In the vear 1823, when the Congregational Church 
■was formed which is now known as the Phillips Church, he generously erected a hall on 
Fourth street for their place of worship and gave them the rent and other substantial aid 
till thev erected their church l)uilding. He had a wonderfully strong and vigorous con- 
stitution and died April 28, 1857 being 83 years of age." Josiah Dunham mar. Mary 
Ann, dau. of William and Mary Elms ol Middleborough, Mass. She d. Feb. 16, lSo8, 
aged 60 years 8 months. Josiah and Mary were both interred in No. 11 St. Matthews 
Church, South Boston but in May, 186i, were removed to Forest Hills, their last restmg 
place. " In 1853 Josiah Dunham, Jr., was chairman of a committee appointed for the 
purpose of organizing a Shade Tree Society." (History of South Boston, p. 220.) "It 
is to be hoped that the day is not far distant when every street as soon as graded will be 
graced with flourishing and beautiful shade trees-" 



378 RENT GENEALOGY. 

and Charles D. 3. Edward Brooks, b. Sept. U, 1843. mar. 

Smith and has had tivo children: Beujauiin K., 

(deceased) Edward B., (deceased) "Williams B., Reirinald S., 
Catherine 11. 4. Charles Little, b. Jan. 14, 1846, mar. Clith- 
eroe Dean, and has three children: Dean K., Benjamin, 3rd, 
and Clitheroe. 5. Benjamin, b. Dec. 2l>, 1851, mar. Kittie 
Greely, no children. O. Williams Kent. b. Dec. 2a, ls.")2, 

mar. Johnson, and has one child, Herbert J. 

Benjamin James, Sr.. mar. for his second wife Susan Hall, who 
was b. in 1823, and bv her had one child. 7. Erank Irvin, b. 
in 1802, d. youni:. The following are some of the Mai-shtield 
branches of the Kent family.* 

Elisha Kent, mar. Susiinna Ford June, 1741. They had 
children: 1. William, b. Oct. 1, 1742, mar. Marv Samson, 
1773. 2. Smith, b. Oct. 22, 1744. 3. Elisha, b. 'Sept. 13, 
1746, lost at sea. 4. Peleg, b. Oct. 4, 1748, mar. Elizabeth 
Ford. 0. Lucy, b. Oct. 5^ 1750. 6. Phebe, b. July 5, 1752, 
died eany. 7. Charles, b. Jan. 7, 1754, mar. Ruth Baker. 
8. Sanih.'b. Feb. 19, 1756, mar. Melzar Samson, 1780. 9. 
:N'athaniel, b. Dec. 25, 1760. 10. AVarren, b. Dec. 20. 1764. 
11. Alice, b. April 22, 1766. 12. Susanna, baptized May 11, 
1766. 

Joseph Kent, mar. Lydia Thomas, Feb. 28, 1743. They 
had children: 1. Ann, b. Oct. 28, 1744, died early. 2. 
Thomas, b. Oct. 13, 1746, lost at sea, 1771. 3. Lydia, b. 
1751. mar. Dr. Burnham of Norwich, Conn. 4. John, b. 1756, 
mar. B. Walker. 5. Nathaniel, b. 1760, mar. 6. Abiirail, b. 
Dec. 22, 1763, mar. Asa Weston. 7. Elizabeth, b. May, 
1767, died June, 1856. 

Bexjamix Kent, mar. Persis Doggett, 1723. Benjamin 
Kent died at Kingston, Jamaica. They had children. 1. 
Penelope, baptized Nov. 8. 1724 or 1726, died early. 2. 
Joseph. 3. John, minors, at their grandfather's death 
removed to ^Maine. 4. Pei-sis, b. July 9, 1724. mar. Robert 
Jenkins of Boston. 5. Betsey or Elizabeth, (mar. a Bois [?] 
of Milton). 6. Nathaniel. 7. Mary, died young. The will of 
Benjamin Kent of Boston, mariner proved June 27, 1748, in 
Sutl'olk Count V, Mass., ffives a remainder of his estate to eijiht 



• Nat. Kent, Nat. Thomas and Nat. Ford all of Marshfield. who ased to be called the 
*' three Nats." settled at Readiield. Maine, and Kent's Hill at that place took its name 
from Nat. Kent. 



KENT GENEALOGY. 379' 

children, viz. : Bonjiimin, Nathaniel, Joscj)!!, John. IVrsis, 
Elizabeth, Batlisheba and ]\Iarv, and appoints his wife IVrsis 
execntrix. A ohuise from Henjaniin Kent's Avill reads, " My 
will is that my said wife shall have the nse and improvement of 
the rest of my real and personal estate to enable her to brin<; up 
my children until the youni!:est of them arrive to the age of 
twenty-one years, and if there should be occasion to sell and 
dis})oso of any or all of my real estate for that end I hereby 
give her power to do so and to execute proper deeds of the same." 

EzEKiEL Kent, mar. Susanna Winslow, Dec. 22, 1740, who 
was probably widow of Nath'l Winslow. They had children : 
1. Penelope, 1). .June 26, 1743, mar. Josiah Winslow\ 2. 
Susanna, b. June 17, 1745. 3. Deborah, b. Oct. 18, 1748, 
mar. Stephen Carver. 4. Ezekiel, b. jNIarch 1, 1747, drowned. 
5. Marcy, b. Oct. 2, 1754, mar. a Reveridge. 6. Ann, b. Jan. 
12, 1758. 7, Benjamin, b. Nov. 6, 17(50, mar. a Beveridge. 
This family removed to Fox Island, Maine. 

William Kent, mar. Mary Sampson. They had children : 1.. 
William, b. Sept. 5, 1773. 2. Polly, b. Dec. 28, 1775, mar. 
Asa Sherman, Dec. 27, 1798. 3. Susanna, b. Nov. 15, 1778. 
4. Smith, b Nov. 28, 1783. 5. Sylvia Church, b. July, 
1788. 6. Elisha, b. Oct. 17, 1789, mar. B. Sprague. 7. Alice 
Warren, b. April 8, 1793. 

Samuel Kent, mar. Desire Barker, June 25, 1732. Desire 
died June 14, 1744. Samuel Kent mar. secondly, Mrs. 
Phoebe Cook, of Kingston, Dec. 8, 1748. Children all by 
the first wife. 1. Samuel, deceased early. 2. Nathaniel, b. 
Feb. 25, 1735, died at Portsmouth. 3. Hannah, b. Au<>-. 4, 
173Z, mar. Nathan Brewster. 4. John, b. Oct. 13, 1739, 
settled at Portsmouth. 5. Sarah, b. Aug. 6, 1741, mar. John 
Friend of Newburyport. (i. lluldah, b. Dec. 2, 1743, died 
unmarried. 7. Ichabod, b. Dec. 13, 1747, settled at Duxbury. 
8. Desire, mar. A. Hunt. 

The above Samuel Kent was probal)ly not a shipbuilder 
There is a tradition that the Kents originally emigrated iron, 
the continent of Europe to England. Judge Hoar, a descend- 
ant of the Kents, has looked up some valuable facts, the author 
understands, relative to this family, but the information came 
too late to investigate for this book. 

The first vessel built by Samuel Kent , of which we have found 
any record was in 1798, the sch. "ELIZA," 70 tons, owned by 



om 



380 VESSELS BUILT BY SAMUEL KENT. 

Jesse Dunbar and Samuel Kent, of Scituate. The next year, 
1799, he built the sch. "SALLY," «3 tons, of Charlestown ; 
owned at one time by Jesse Dunbar, Eli Cuilis, Samuel Kent 
and Asa Vinal. After they sold her, she was sold by the U. 
S. Marshal while she was owned by Charlestown parties, for 
a breach of the laws of the United States. Later she was 
owned in Sweden and called the sch. " JV/zsled." Samuel Kent 
built in 1800 the ship " CHARLOTTE," 154 tons, of Boston. 
Also in 1800, the sch. " LIBERTY," 88 tons ; owned by Wil- 
liam and Lemuel Vinal, Charles Ellmes, who was master, and 
David Otis, of Scituate. He built three vessels the next year, 
1801, viz: ship "MARTHA," 192 tons, of Boston; sch. 
"EAGLE," 107 tons, of Boston, and the sch. "WASHING- 
TON," 87 tons ; Barnabas Hedge, owner, at Plymouth. In 
1827 she was whaling and sealing in the South seas. In 1802, 
Samuel Kent built the sch. "HANNAH," 138 tons; two 
decks and two masts, of Scituate, Ira Bryant, master; Lemuel 
Vinal, Samuel Kenc, and Ira Bryant, Scituate, owners. He 
built in 1803 the sch. "INDUSTRY," 68 tons, of Scituate; 
Lemuel Vinal and Nehemiah Manson, owners ; also in 1803, the 
sch. "NANCY," 94 tons ; owned by Abner Bailey, Elijah Cur- 
tis, David Otis and Davis Jenkins, of Scituate. The "Nancy " 
was afterward used as a North River packet, and commanded 
by Capt. Asa Sherman, Sr. In 1804, the sch. "MARY," 82 
tons, of Kingston, was built by Samuel Kent, master carpen- 
ter, and in 1805, the sch. " WASHINGTON," 108 tons ; owned 
by Ezra and Lemuel Vinal, Abraham Harris and Perez Pynchon, 
of Scituate ; also in 1805 the sch. " JAMES," 100 tons ; owned by 
Israel Merritt, Ensiirn Otis, Jr., Lydia Little, and Gridley 
Cole, of Scituate. In 1807, the sch. "FRIENDSHIP," 79 
tons, owned by Samuel Kent, shipwright, Lenuiel Vinal, 
Nehemiah Manson, David Otis, Jr., and Perez Pynchon, of 
Scituate. He also built the brig " OREGON." 

Kent's yard was used by Anthony Waterman in 1813, which 
year he built the sch. "OLD CARPENTER," 22 tons; Lem- 
uel Vinal, owner, Scituate. He also built the sch. "JOLLY 
TAR" at this yard. Anthony was son of Capt. Anthony, the 
tanner, who came into Scituate from Marshtield in 1760. 
Anthony, tlr., b. 1763, resided at Buck's corner, near the Harl)or. 
His son James had a tannery on the old Turner and Copeland 
place. So. Scituate. Anthony Waterman has a grandson, 
Andrew, now living at the Harbor, where he keeps a tinshop op- 
posite the South Shore House. The British man of AVar, " Bui- 



SAMUEL KENT NOAH BROOKS. 381 

wark," lay off Scituate Harbor during the war of 1812. Deane 
writes : "The militia of Scituate were called out certainly on 
one occasion, viz., July 7, 1814. The British 74, called the 
"Bulwark," had lain near Scituate Harbor several weeks, and 
had sent a demand on shore for fresh beef and vegetables, which 
the citizens of course did not furnish. Early in the mornino- of 
June 11, 1814, two tenders manned with marines came into the 
Harbor and set fire to the shipping, and returned to their 
vessel. Ten vessels, fishing and coasting craft were lost. A 
regiment of militia, under Col. John Barstow, repaired to the 
neighborhood of the Harbor; but their services were not 
needed, and they returned to their homes." 

The last vessel we find built by Samuel Kent, was in 1818, 
the brig " ORACLE," 144 tons, of Boston ; owners, Otis 
Vinal, Warren Clafiiin, of Boston, Thomas Hobart, of Pem- 
broke, and Edmund Freeman, of Orleans, Mass. Samuel 
Kent later moved to So. Boston, where he worked repairing old 
vessels. Afterward he returned to Scituate, where he died, 
and is buried in Norwell, in the cemetery opposite the Unita- 
rian church "on the hill." 

Ca2)t. JSFoah Brooks, who served his apprenticeship with 
Samuel Kent, built in the Kent yard in 1804 the brig " TROP- 
IC," 150 tons, owned by Thomas Motley, Jr., of Boston. This 
was probably the first ship he built on his own account, as he 
was then but 22 years of age. Noah Brooks was a direct 
descendant of William, who was a householder in Scituate in 
1644, and resided south of Tills creek, near a clear spring of 
water. Capt. Noah Brooks was b. in Scituate, July 7, 1782, 
and d. in Dorchester, Jan. 28, 1852, from the result of an 
accident, he being thrown from a sleigh. As before stated, he 
served his apprenticeship with his brother-in-law, Samuel Kent, 
in the Kent yard at the HarI)or. For several seasons in the fall 
of the year he took companies of men down Eastand built one or 
more vessels there. He went to So. Boston, where he worked 
a short time for Lot Wheelwright, and afterward built 
ships on his own account at the yard foot of F street, later 
occupied by E. & H. O, Briggs, he being a partner with them 
at the time they built their first vessel. He built the bark 
"Edward Fletcher," which was launched from back of the 
forts, fully rigged. Capt. Noah Brooks was son of Noah 
who descended from Nathaniel, through Nathaniel, Jr., and 
Taylor Brooks. Noah, Sr., mar. Hannah, dau. of Ebenezer 



382 BROOKS GENEALOGY. 

Stetson, who lived on North River. Captain Noah, Jr., the 
shi})l)uilder, mar. in 1812, Esther Stetson. She was born in 
Scitnate in 1785, and died in 1863. 

CHILDREN OF CAPT. NOAH AND ESTHER STETSON BROOKS. 

1. Williams Barker, mar. Alvira W. Rice, and they have 
had nine children whose names are given below. 2. Esther 
Stetson, mar. Seth Pettee, and had one child, Noah Brooks, d. 
aged 11 mos. 3. Nancy. 4. John. 5. Lydia Sophronia, 
mar. Joseph Winsor, Jr., and had one child, Francis Herbert. 
6. Sarah Copeland. 7. Hannah Elizabeth, mar. Benjamin B. 
■Converse, and has had five children ; two now living, Herbert 
Brooks and Frank Battelle. <!^. Noah Warren, d. aged 8 mos. 
9. Maria Warren, mar. Francis B. Little. 

CHILDREN OF WILLIAMS BARKER AND ALVIRA W. BROOKS. 

1. Mary Alvira Briggs, d. aged 8 mos. 2. Marion Wil- 
liams. 3. Noah Walter. 4. Ella Maria. 5. Esther Stetson. 
6. Williams Barker. 7. Antoinette Parsons. 8. Agnes Al- 
vira. 9. Laura Alice. 

James Sylvester Briggs and Barnabas W. Briggs^ built at 
the Harbor as early as 1834. They first occupied the Samuel 
Kent yard and opposite the residence of John Beal. There they 
built three schooners. They then removed down to the lower 
wharf, to the Will James yard, back of the old Dunbar store. 
This yard had been occupied prior to this time hy Abijah Otis. 
They were descendants of Walter, who was in Scituate in 1645. 
(See Briggs yard). Walter had a son, Lieut. James, who had 
a son Benjamin, b. in 1695. His son was James Briggs, b. 
Nov. 16, 1735, the veteran town clerk, which office he held for 
twenty-five years, and was generally called "Clark Briggs." 
He lived a half-mile south of Stockbridge's mill, and died in 
1834, aged 99 years. His son Joseph, b. 1776, was father of 
James Sylvester and Barnabas W. Briggs. 

mar. Selina Curtis, Nov. 

1^'' 1^23, and had chil- 
^/l//^€f4 c/ ♦ /%^^^*^^^^ dren: 1. Selina Curtis, 

b. Oct. 26, 1824. 2. 
Cynthia Miriam, b. Oct. 6, 1829. 3. Hannah Wade, 1). Oct. 
29, 1833. Selina married Perry L. Parker, Nov. 25, 1849, 
and had six children : Perry Llewellyn, b. Nov. 9, 1853. Ida 
Virginia, b. July 11, 1855."^ Joseph Sylvester Briggs, b. Aug. 





BRIGGS GENEALOGY. 



383 



8, 1857. George Scarboro, b. Sept. 3, 1859. Selina Miriam, 
b. Oct. {]. 18G3. Willie Grant, b. April 29, 1866. Cynthia M. 
mar. Anthony Gray, Mar. 15, 1868 ; no children. Hannah W. 
mar. George W. Bailey, Nov. 26, 1856, and had two chil- 
dren, Heri)ert Briijgs, b. Sep. 28, 1857, and Job Foster, b. 
June 14, 1865. 

Barnabas W. Briggs, mar. Deborah Otis Jan. 17, 1831, and 
had children : 1. Emeline A., b. Nov. 9, 1832. 2. Ellen Deborah, 
1). Feb. 16, 1835. 3. Joseph Otis, b. Nov. 9, 1836. 4. Caroline 
Elizabeth, b. Jan. 15, 1845. 5. Julietta F., b. Sep. 27, 1846. 
Emeline A. Bkiggs d. June 7, 1886, while teaching in the 
Florida Institute, at Live Oak, Fla. Ellen Deborah mar. 
Luther Paul Nov. 18, 1869, and had six children ; Helen Flor- 
ence, b. Jan. 5, 1870. Luther Gordon, b. July 29, 1871. 
Twin girls, b. Jan. 16, 1873. Harriet Otis, b. Nov. 22, 1874. 
James Irving, b. July 29, 1876. Joseph Otis, mar. Elsie 
Orcutt Dec. 31, 1869, and had one child, Elsie Gertrude, b. 
June 15, 1871. Julietta F. mar. W. Webster Lunt, Mar. 1, 
1870, and had five children. Grace Webster, b. Sep. 11, 
1872. Albion Wallace, b. Oct. 14, 1874. W. Webster, b. 
June 6, 1877. Twin boys, b. Feb. 3, 1884.. 

James Sylvester Briggs was usually called Sylvester Briggs, 
which cognomen will be generally used here. The sterns of their 
vessels at the lower yard were nearly up to the back of Dunbar's 
store. 

Otis Briggs^ belonging to another branch of this family, 
built at the Harbor in 1831 the sch. "PYRETUS," 57 tons of 
Scituate, a fishing schooner. John and Peleg Jenkins, John 
Beal, Jesse Dunbar and Elijah Jenkins, Jr., owners. (See 
Briggs' yard. North River.) 

is now living at Scituate Centre, and is a remarkably well- 
preserved man, with almost perfect memory at the age of 
eighty-four, having been born May 20, 1805. He has given 
the author much valuable information about the shipbuilding at 
the Harbor, and on North River. (See Briggs Yard on North 
River.) James Sylvester Briggs was the master carpenter of 



384 VESSELS BUILT BY J. S. & B. W. BRIGGS. 

most of tlie vessels built bv bim and bis brotber. Together 
tbey built in 1834 tbe scb/" SCITUATE," a fisbing scbooner 
of 86 tons, of Scituate ; Cummings Jenkins, measurer; own- 
ers, Perry P. Coleman, Jobn Beal, Peleg Jenkins, Justin 
Litcbtield, Sceva Cbandler, David Coleman and Atwood L. 
Dunbar, of Scituate. Capt. Cole commanded ber on ber first 
voyao"e, and Capt. Alexander Anderson was mate. Sbe was 
finally sold to Provincetown, and used also as a wbalerbyP. A. 
Barnard, of New York, by wbom sbe was sold in 1838. Tbe 
Briggses built in 1835 tbe sch " LAPWING," 64 tons. James 
S. Brings, master and part owner; also Jobn Beal, Peleg and 
David S. Jenkins, George M. Allen, Shadracb Briggs and 
Cbarles Vinal, of Scituate, owners. Sylvester and Barnabas 
Brings went tbe first voyage in tbe " Lapwing " fisbing and 
coasting. Sbadracb B. Curtis and Andrew Cole went in ber 
several fisbing voyages. Tbe next year after sbe Avas built, Capt. 
McCloud, 3rd, took ber, tben Capt. Smitb, and about 1844, 
Capt. Anderson. Sylvester and Barnabas Briggs built in 1837 
tbe sell. " LYDIA & POLLY," of Scituate ; owned by Cbarles 
Vinal, Capt. Antbony Waterman, Sbadracb Briggs and David S. 
Jenkins, of Scituate. Tbe "Lydia & Polly," was named for 
Capt. Waterman's two daughters wbo lay dead in bis bouse at 
one time afterward. In 1838 tbe scb. " POCAHONTAS," a 
fishing vessel of 41 tons; owned by James S. and B. W. and 
Sbadracb Briggs, Henry T. Otis, Benjamin Brown, Jr., and 
Justice Litchfield, was built by the Briggs Bros. Also in 1839, 
the sch. "STAR," 23 tons, owned by John Beal, John C. 
Jones, John, Peleg and Elijah Jenkins, Sr., Noah Jenkins, 
Jr., Peuben C. Bates and Seth Webb, of Scituate ; used as a 
fishing vessel. In 1839 the sch. "COHANNET" was built in 
Scituate, a fisherman of 82 tons, oak, iron and copper fastened ; 
owned in 1865 by Kent and others, Boston. In 1867 she was 
whaling in tbe Pacific. In 1874 was sold to Fair Haven, and in 
1877 went on a whaling voyage. The sch. " PLANET," was 
built by the Briggses for Capt. Curtis, of Scituate. 

In 1841, the bark "JAMES W. PAIGE," 198 tons, oak, 
copper fastened, was built in Scituate, Mass., by J. O. Curtis, 
and owned, in 1859, by Benner & Deake, N. Y., Capt. Jones. 
Half poop deck. J. O. Curtis afterward removed with his 
family to Medford. 

In 1841, the sch. " SARAH," 63 tons, was built by William 
Vinal at Melzar Turner's yard, and used as a packet between 




/^ :cr^ /^^^ 



g-^ ^L^-*^^"^^ 



"WILLIAM VINAL HENRY A. VINAL. 385 

Scituate and Boston, afterward sold south. William Vinal 
also built, in 1848, the sch. "MARY,'" 78 tons, of Scituate. 
AVilliam Vinal was father of Capt. Henry Vinal, the master 
carpenter of this vessel. Capt. Henry A. Vinal was born m 
1805, and is now living at Scituate Harbor, bright as a new 
dollar, and with feelings as young as a boy of sixteen. He 
has a smart, light step, good lungs and constitution ])robabIy 
strengthened by his long sea life. He conmienced his sea life 
when but ten years old in the capacity ot cook on the sch. 
"Adventure," 75 tons, built "up the harbor," and owned by 
his father, William Vinal. At eighteen years of age he was 
captain of her, and sailed to Virginia, Noi-th Carolina and 
other Atlantic coastline states ; also Texas, where he met Sam- 
uel Houston, afterward governor, whom he describes as "a halo 
fellow well met." He next Avent coasting and fishing in the 
sch. "Ontario," which he says was built by C. O, l^riggs. 
About 1845, Sylvester BrigL^s built the bark "J. A. JKSU- 
ROON." She was Iniilt for J. A. Jesuroon, a foreigner, who 
owned one-third of her. Capt. Vinal and others were inter- 
ested in her. While she w^as lying at her wharf in Boston, 
loading for a foreign voyage, Capt. Vmal was asked how much 
he would take for her. "$10,()()0," he re[)lied. She was sold 
and fitted out for California in 1849. Cajjt. Vinal, when at 
Curacoa during one of his voyages, got the merchants and 
others quite interested telling them about our rabbits, describ- 
ing them, of course, as having long ears, shoit tails and "how 
soft they Avere," and ."how they would jump," and they :isked 
him to bring some down at any price. When he returned home 
he set the l)oys to work with their box-traps and got quite a num- 
ber which he took down to Curacoa. It was really a financial 
success as the merchants paid him $2.00 for the rabbits, $2.00 
for catching them, and $2.00 for taking them down, making 
$6.00 apiece. 

The Brisffs Brothers built the "DRAPER," sold to Boston ; 
also the "GOLDEN HORN," for Souther of Cohassct. The 
"J. SETTER," a sch. of 58 tons, owned, in 1874, at Turk's 
Island, was also built at the Harbor; she was built in 1846, 
of oak, iron and copper fastened. Sylvester and Barnabas 
Briggs built, in 1845, the sch. "JOHN J. EATON," 48 tons, 
owned by Shadrach B. Curtis, Sceva Chandler, Edw. F. Rorter, 
Benj. Brown, Jr., Jose[)h Xorthy, J. S. Jiriggs, George ]\I. 
Allen, Dexter and Charles Vinal, Scituate. The Brijrjrsey 
built the same vear, 1845, the brig "CLARENDON," 182 tons ; 



386 VESSELS BUILT AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 

owners, Chandler Clapp, Benjamin Brown, Jr., and Shadrach 
Briggs of Scituate. In 1846, they built the sch. "OTIS," 87 
tons ; owners, George M. and William P. Allen and John 
Manson, Scituate ; she was built of oak, iron and copper fas- 
tened, repaired m 1867, and owned, in 1875, by R. Murray 
Jr., Capt. Cutts, master, N. Y. In 1847, they built the sch. 
"CLARA JANE," m terns, owned in Plymouth in 1884. The 
sch. "BELLE," of about 35 tons, built at the Harbor, is now 
lying there condemned and useless. Sylvester and Barnabas 
Briggs built, in 1848, two vessels, viz. : sch. "SEARS & J. 
ROGERS," 31 tons, of Orleans, Mass., and the sip. "TAG- 
LIONI," 34 tons, owned by Shadrach B. Curtis and James S. 
Briffofs, Scituate, and used as a Boston and Scituate Packet. 
In 1849, they built the bark "MARTHA ALLEN," 283 tons ; 
owners, Joel L. and John Manson and George M. Allen of 
Scituate; she had one deck and beams built of oak, and was 
iron and copper fastened. Capt. Joel Manson went master, but 
left her on her arrival home, being sick. He died in Feb., 1851. 
Capt. King took her and, on a voyage to Rio de Janeiro was 
taken sick and put in at the Cape de Verde Islands, where he 
died, the mate coming home master of her. She was owned, 
in 1859, by G. F. Schmidt, Hamburg, and sailing under the 
German flag. 

In 1848-49, a company of ship carpenters, with William 
Briqgs as/oreyuan, built a vessel at the Harl)or on their own 
account. This was the sch. " SARAH BROOKS," 76 tons, of 
Scituate ; she was launched in 1849 ; owners, Robert Cook, 
Israel Nichols, Asa R. Lewis, Joseph and Franklin Damon, 
Charles Ellms, 2nd., David and William Briggs, John L. 
Whittaker, Joseph Drew, Asa L. Hatch and Luther A. Tilden, 
Scituate, and Elbridge Wyman, Boston. Israel Nichols was 
master of this vessel. This was after he was discharged from 
the almshouse, where he had been confined five or six years in 
the old iron cage, being insane. After he was let out he lay 
on the ground for a time, really breathing in the very earth, 
and soon he appeared to be all right. He commanded the 
''Sarah Brooks," fishing in the summer and coasting as far as 
the Carolinas in the winter. On her last voyage he got as far 
as Provincetown with her twice, and returned each time on 
account of bad Aveather. Ichabod Cook then took the vessel 
and sailed from Scituate, but neither she nor any of the crew 
were ever heard from afterward. 




;.:W JiSE' ■ ■ 



Bakk " Martha Allen,' 283 tons. 
Built at Scituate Harbor, in 1849, by J. S. Briggs. 



VESSELS BUILT AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 387 

Sylvester and Barnabas Briggs built about this time a 
iSCHOONER, of about 90 tons, for Capt. Loring Bates and one 
or two SCHOONERS, names unknown. They also built, in 1851, 
the sch. "ANTELOPE,'" 65 tons; she drew 9 feet of water, 
was built of oak, iron, and copper fastened; in 1872 was 
owned by F. M. Freeman of Provincetown, Capt. Thomas 
Paine, and in 1884 m Camden, Me. They built, in 1854, the 
bark "DANIEL," said to have been named for Daniel Phillips 
who lived next west of Nelson's at Marshfield. She was of 
240 tons, 110 feet long, 26 feet broad, of oak, iron and copper 
fastened, yellow metalled in 1864, and owned, in 1874, by 
Spearwater, of Nassau and saihng under the British flag, Capt. 
George H. Chisholm. There is a story that the Halls built a 
" Daniel " at the ferry which was named for Daniel Phillips. 
In that case this is probably another vessel, and was not named 
for Mr. Phillips. In 1856, J. Sylvester Briggs Ixiilt the 
tark "EVANGELINE," 488 tons, owned, in 1861, by W. S. 
Bartlett of Boston, Capt. Bartlett ; owned, in 1865, by W. S. 
Bartlett, London, Capt. Grey. W. F. Weld is said to have 
ibeen interested in this vessel at one time. The sch. " OCEAN 
BELLE," 55 tons was built in Scituate, in 1860, by the 
Briggses for Abel Vinal ; she was owned in 1884 in New 
York. The last vessel built by Sylvester and Barnabas 
Briggs was the bark "EVELINE," 650 tons, ior Capt. Jos. 
Smith of Cohasset ; she was begun Feb. 10, 1859. She made 
a remarkably quick passage on her first trip, arriving at her 
port two days before she was due. 

The sch. "S. R. SOBER," 130 tons, was built in Scituate in 
1832, and owned and sailed by Robert O. Soper in 1865, 
whaling ; she was lost on Bird Island, May 25, 1870. In 1836, 
the sch. "WM. ALLEN." 99 tons, of Provincetown, was built 
in Scituate. Also the " LYCEUM " was built at Scituate Har- 
bor for Melzar Litchfield, and afterward lost at sea. 

About 1837 Melzar 8. Turner * came down from Pembroke 
and built just above the upper wharf by the mill and opposite 
the residence of Capt. Henry Vinal. Melzar Turner mar., for 
his first wife, a sister of William Turner. By her he had two 
children : George and Julia. George went to Liverpool, Julia 
is deceased. Melzar Turner mar., secondly, Emma, dau. of 
Israel Merritt. By her he had two children : one is now living 



• See JBrick-kiln Yard. 



388 VESSELS BUILT BY MELZAR S. TURNER. 

in Marshfield, a Mrs. Rogers. Melzar Turner mar., for his third 
wife, Harriet, dau. of Dea. Israel Cudworth of Scituate ; by her 
he had six children, five of whom are now living, viz. : 1. Henry 
James, who is in Detroit, Michigan, with Calvert & Co. 2. 
Charles Everett, residing in Mattapan, Mass. 3. Danforth Fish, 
residing in Waltham, Mass. 4. Jennie, living in Cambridge. 
5. May, living in Cambridge. Melzar Turner built alone until 
Lnther Bririgs, who had built in company with him at the 
Brick-kiln 3''ard, came down and helped him finish a vessel. 
From this time Towner & Brujris. built more or less together at 
both yards until 1848, when they gave up the Pembroke yard, 
and built only at the Harbor. 

At Scituate Harbor Melzar Turner built the brig " FRANK- 
LIN," the brig "HIGGINS," the sch. "WILLIAM SOPER," 
and the sch. "MORRIS." We have been unable to ascertain 
in what years these vessels were built. Melzar Turner built, 
in 1837, the sch. "REAPER," 94 tons, of Scituate; Elijah 
Jenkins, Jr., and Seth Webb, owners, afterward sold to Bos- 
ton ; and the same year, 1837, the sch. "ORIANNA," 111 
tons ; Chandler and Albert Clapp, John Beal and Peleg Jen- 
kins, owners; in 1838, he built the sch. "ONTARIO," 92 
tons; Elijah Jenkins, Jr., Seth Webb, Henry F. Vinal and 
Francis Thomas, owners. In 1841, there was built here the 
bark "TURK," 197 tons, of Boston, by Melzar S. Turner, 
master carpenter; owners, Alpheus Hardy, of Boston, and 
others, who afterward had another vessel built here named the 
"Young Turk." Melzar Turner built, in 1842, the bark 
"LAWRENCE," 198 tons, of Boston. She was built of oak, 
copper fastened; owned, in 1863, by Fabins of Salem, Capt. 
Puling. She was often registered as the ^"Laurence.'''' The 
same year, 1842, the sip. "SINUS," 55 tons, was built at 
Scituate Harbor, by Melzar S. Turner, master carpenter ; Wil- 
liam Vinal, owner and, in 1843, the bark "ZULETTE," 198 tons, 
of Boston. 

In 1845, Luther Briggs was the master carpenter, and this 
year the brig "ARGUS," of 130 tons, was built at Scituate 
Harbor by the firm ; Chandler and Henry Clapp, Peleg T. and 
and David S. Jenkins, Luther Briggs, Caleb W. Prouty and 
Isaac Litchfield, of Scituate, and others, were the owners. 
The sch. "TALISMAN, 73 tons, oak, copper and iron fas- 
tened was built in Scituate in 1845, and owned in 1865, by 
Hicks & Bell, N. Y., Capt. E. G. Conner; large repairs were 



VESSELS BUILT BY BRIGGS & TURNER. 389 

made on her in 1860, Briggs & Turner also built the brig 
"SAMUEL SOPER," and two vessels named "MARY." 
They built a fishing and coasting scliooner in 1846 ; this was 
the sch. "SPARTACUS," 92 tons, of Scituate ; owners, Perry 
^. Parker, Edward F. Porter, Caleb W. Prouty, PelegT., Noah 
and Reu])en Y. Jenkins, Benjamin Swan, Jr., Joseph Northey, 
Thomas M. Hatch, Walter Wall and Meizar S. Turner, of Scit- 
uate, Luther Briggs, of Pembroke, and others ; she w^as sold and 
fitted out for California durinjy the gold fever of 1849. During 
the two years before she was sold, Capt. Anderson, a part 
owner, w^ent master of her. Capt. Alexander Anderson was 
born in Scituate Harbor in 1817. When about nine years old, 
he went in the schooner "Olive Branch," Capt. Stetson, one 
season, afterward in the schooner "Danul^e," as steward, with 
his uncle, Capt. Damon, for six years, wdien he left her, being 
then master. In 1839, he went as mate in the "Huron," (built 
at Brooks &, Tilden's Yard), afterward in the sch. "Globe" 
from North Carolina ; he then w^ent in a Hingham schooner, 
and in the sch. "James Otis" (built at Brick-kiln Yard), 
coasting and fishing. He was master of the " Spartacus " for 
two years, when he bought one-half of the sch. " Ahnira," built at 
Boothbay ; after commanding her three years, he sold her and 
went into the wrecking busmess, getting wrecks off" the coast, 
or breaking them up if there was no chance of saving them. 
In this business he has assisted at one hundred and seven 
wrecks, and he remembers the particulars of each. Between 
his voyages in his early days he worked painting vessels on 
Hall's Yard and on Cushing O. and Henry Briggs' Yard. 
Capt. Anderson still lives at the Harbor and continues in the 
wrecking business. 

Briggs & Turner built at the Harbor, in 1846, the sch. 
"BAY^STATE," 90 tons, Luther Briggs and Meizar Turner, 
master carpenters ; owners, Caleb W. Prouty, Peleg T. and 
David S. Jenkins, Thomas J. Curtis, Daniel Broughton, 
Edward F. Porter, Anthony Chubuck, James H. ]\Ierritt, 
Asaph A. Faxon, Thomas Clapp, Sceva Chandler and Meizar 
S. Turner, of Scituate, Luther Briggs, of Pembroke, and 
John Lewis of Marshfield ; built of oak, iron and copper fas- 
tened, half deck, owned, in 1865, by Coburn & Rav, Capt. 
Corey, Rockland. In 1848, they built the sch. "EXCEL," 74 
tons, owned, in 1884, at Boston, and registered as 52 tons. 
There was also built here, in 1848, the sch. "FLORA," 70 
tons, of oak, break cabin, break two decks ; owned, in 1861, 



390 VESSELS BUILT BY TURNER, OTIS & COLE. 

by N. D. Scudder & Co., Barnstable, Capt. J. B. Sears ; owned, 
in 187(5, l)y Owen Bearse at Boston. The "Almatia" is the 
last vessel we have found recorded as having been built at the 
Harbor by the firm of Briggs & Turner. The bark " ALMA- 
TIA," 475 tons, was built by Briggs & Turner, in 185G, at 
Scituate, Mass; owned, in 1861, by A. H. Power and others, 
of Cohasset, Mass., and by the Captain, J. H. Smith. 

Mr. Turner had for several years been a member of the firm 
oi Turner, Otis S Cole, (Melzar S. Turner, Edwin Otis, An- 
drew Cole.) This firm occupied the yard back of the store at 
Dunbar's wharf at the head of Will James' dock, and nearly 
opposite the residence of Squire Dun])ar. Andrew Cole was 
born in Scituate, and was son of Braddock Cole. He was a ship 
carpenter by trade, having served his time with Noah Brooks. 
He is now living in Scituate and unmarried. Here they l)uilt in 
1847 the bark "UNION," 199 tons, of Boston ; oak, copper and 
iron fastened ; one deck, owned in 1859 by Clermont & 
Kendrick, Capt. Kendrick ; owned in 1865 by Capt. G. Seller, 
Geetsm'de. They also built here several whaling vessels and 
Philadelphia packets. Turner, Otis & Cole built here im 
1847 the ship " HANNAH EDDY," 414 tons, of Boston. Ed- 
win Young worked on the vessels "Hannah Eddv," " Selah," 
and "Daniel Davis." He says that in 1837, $50,()00 worth of 
vessels were built at the Harbor. He was born August, 1819, 
and worked in Charlestown, also in man}'' yards on North 
River, painting vessels. He mar. jNIary L. Litchfield, and had 
children, one adopted, Flora L., Perez L., Edwin A., AYal- 
ter L., Camilla Urso. In 1848 the bark " MAEY F. 
SLADE," 199 tons of Boston, was built at Scituate Harbor by 
Turner, Otis & Cole, built of oak, iron and copper fastened ; 
owned in 18(U l)y A. A. Frazier, of Boston, Capt. Crowell. 
The bark " SELAH," of 199 tons, of Boston, was built here in 
1848, by Turner, Otis & Cole, for Hardy & Baker, who 
used her in the Southern Packet Lines. She was built 
of oak, iron and copper fastened, single bottom, and drew 
twelve feet of water. She was bought from Boston in 1868, 
and sent whaling in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, until she 
was condemned and sold at Panama, June 6, 1873. She was 
bought by J. M. McCooke, who repaired her, and in 1876 she 
was whaling from that port. The same year that Turner, Otis 
& Cole built the " SELAH," they built the brig " EMPIRE," 
497 tons, built in 1848, sold to Boston, and owned in 1859 by 
Emery, of Boston, Capt. Osborn, and in 1861 by Post &, 
Small, Boston. 



LAST VESSELS BUILT AT THE HARBOR. 391 

In l.'^oO Edicin 0^^s was master carpenter of the sch. "SOUTH 
SHOEE," 88 tons, of Scituate, a very fast vessel built 
of spruce, and runnins; to Bangor in the lumber trade. She 
was owned ])y Edwin & Rowland Otis, Jr., Ensign O. Beal and 
Benjamin Brown, of Scituate ; she was owned in 1863 by 
Howland Otis at the Harl)or. 

Turner, Otis & Go. built in 1852 the sch. "JAMES 
WYMAN," 65 tons, owned by Robert Cook, James Wyman, 
Perry L. Parker, Franklin Damon, Sceva Chandler, Benjamin 
O. Totman, John D. and Daniel Torrey, Jr., Thomas L. 
Prouty, Henry Hyland and Archibald Mitchell, all of Scituate ; 
owned in 1863 by E. H. Cook, in Vinal Haven, Capt. Buck- 
master, and used as a fisherman. They also built a vessel 
named " MARY." The sch. " EMMA V.," 149 tons, was built 
in Scituate in 1852. She had a trunk cabin, was built of 
oak, copper and iron fastened ; owned in 1865 by Boardman 
& Sanderson, Provincetown ; Capt. Pondor. The bark 
"YOUNG TURK," 300 tons, two decks, oak, copper and iron 
fastened, was built at Scituate Harl)or in 1853 by Turner and 
others; owned in 1859 by Hardy and others, Boston; Capt. 
Harding. She was a very successful vessel, and used in the 
Mediterranean trade, where she paid for herself several times, 
and was finally lost off the Gut of Canso. In 1854 there 
were two vessels built here. The bark " SARAH/' 260 tons, 
oak and pine, iron and copper fiistened ; owned in 1859 by 
Vose, Livingstone & Co., New York; Capt. C. S. Stephens; 
in 1865 by Pendergast Bros., Barbadoes ; Capt. J. Boyd; and 
she was afterward called the ^^ Nellie F'enivick." The sch. 
" LINNELL," 177 tons, was built in Scituate in 1854; owned 
in 1861 by Capt. Freeman, of Orleans, Mass; Capt. Freeman, 
break deck. The sch. "A. F. LINNELL," 176 tons, was built 
in Scituate in 1855 ; owned and sailed in 1861 by Capt. Free- 
man, of Orleans. The sch. "FOUR BROTHERS," a fishing 
sch., 53 tons; was built in Scituate in 1857; owned in 1865 
by N. Chase, of Harwick ; Capt. A. S. Chase. The last 
vessel whose record we have that was built at the Harbor was 
the sch. "METEOR," 116 tons ; built in Scituate in 1864 ; owned 
at Boston in 1884. This was probably the last vessel built at 
the Harbor. 

" Upon North River's banks no more 
The builder's axe is heard ; 
No more the new-launched boat before 
The quiet tide is stirred. 



392 TO THE AUTHOR. 

No keel the careful master lays 
The idle stream beside ; 
Nor longer down the smoking ways 
The shapely vessels glide. 

*' Still, bidden by the circling moon, 
The salt tides come and go, 
And crimson dawn and golden noon 
Along the marshes glow. 
But down the ebb no brave barks float, 
All's calm as when of yore 
The Indian drove his birchen boat 
Along the wood-hung shore. 

*' Yet once on either busy bank 
The workman's hammer rang, 
And many a ship of goodly rank 
To the fair river sprang. 

What seas they sought ! What perils dared ! 
What fate was theirs at last ! 
In sunless gulfs of ocean snai"ed. 
Or on some lee-shore cast ! 

" But here the historian's faithful pen 
Once more their canvas spreads, 
And on his well-wrought deck again 
The master builder treads. 
Floats once again the storied stream 
Its freight of shipping down. 
And dark hulls glide and bright sails gleam 
By every busy town. 

" From out the past this book reclaims 
What record it may give, 
And bids these else forgotten names 
Upon its pages live ; 
While still by meadow-margined ways, 
North River seeks the deep, 
Forever past its working days, 
And come its time to sleep." 

E. A. O. 



r'^^^-*' 




A LIST OF VESSELS 

BUILT ON NORTH RIVER AND AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 



Name. 


Tox- 

NAGE. 


Rig. 


Built 


Town oe Yard. 


to 

Oh 


Aaron 


43 


sch. 


1787 


Brick-kiln 


173 


Abbie Bradford 


114 


sch. 


1860 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


143 


Abigail 


50 


sip. 


1784 


Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


272 


Abigail Little 


20 


sip. 


1819 


Rogers Yard 


212 


Abigail & Elizabeth 


80 


brigantine 


1707 


Block House 


261 


Abigail & Sarah 


60 


brigantine 


1705 


Miscel. Scituate 


339 


Abraham 


— 


brig 


1847 


Torrey, Block-house 


271 


Abram 


158 


brig 


1848 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


141 


Acastus 


343 


ship 


1811 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Adams 


77 


sch. 


1803 


Barstow " Two Oaks " 


101 


Adams 


111 


sch. 


1825 


Briggs Yard 


317 


Adelia Rogers 


199 


bk. 


1849 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


141 


Adeline 


99 


sch. 


1835 


Briggs & Turner, Brick-kiln 


196 


Adventure 


50 


brigantine 


1696 


Misrel. Scituate 


337 


Adventure 


15 


sip. 


1698 


Scituate Harbor 


366 


Adventure 


60 


brigantine 


1702 


Wanton 


218 


Adventure 


40 


brigantine 


1702 


Wanton 


218 


Adventure 


50 


ship 


1704 


Miscel. Scituate 


339 


Adventure, lately the Kandol 


60 


brigantine 


1705 


Chittenden Yard 


244 


Adventure 


50 


iirigantine 


1707 


Wanton 


218 


A. F. Linnell 


176 


sch. 


1855 


Scituate Harbor 


391 


Agnes 


53 


sch. 


1842 


Miscel. Scituate 


344 


Albion 


28 


sip. 


1823 


Foster & Co. Wanton 


235 


Alert 


164 


brig 


1796 


Miscel. Hanover 


130 


Alexander 


133 


brig, aft. ship 


1796 


Brick-kiln 


174 


Alexander 


74 


sch. 


1848 


Miscel. Scituate 


344 


Alexander Hodgden 


377 


ship 


1801 


Delano, Wanton 


224 


Alexandria 


206 


brig 


1832 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


184 


Allen 


127 


sch., aft. Her. brig 


1838 


Barstow Lower Yard 


111 


Allen King 


206 


brig 


1843 


Brooks & Tilden 


279 


Almatia 


475 


bark 


1856 


Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor 


390 


Almina 


175 


bark 


1835 


Waterman & Bates, Fox Hill 


138 


Almira 


86 


sch. 


1801 


Torrey, Chittenden Yard 


250 


Almira 


178 


brig 


1805 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


174 


Almira 


— 


sch. 


183- 


Souther & Cudvvorth, Chittenden Yd 


257 


Alonzo 


— 


ship 


1804 


Miscel. Hanover 


130 


Amazon 


107 


sch. 


1804 


Samson, No. River Bridge 


70 


America 


49 


sch. 


1784 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


America 


50 


sch. 


1787 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


America 


47 


sch. 


1787 


Stutson, Wanton 


222 


America 


220 


ship 


1792 


Briggs Yard 


310 


America 


280 


ship 


1803 


Smith Yard 


93 


America 


362 


ship 


1810 


Turner, Miscel. Hanover 


126 


America 





ship 


1812 


Foster, Wanton 


230 


America 


81 


sch. 


1832 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


256 


American 


283 


ship 


1827 


Barstow Lower Yard 


107 


Amity 


25 


brigantine 


1700 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Amity 


65 


bk. 


1701 


Block-house 


260 


Amity 


50 


sip. 


1705 


Miscel. Scituate 


339 


Amulet 


153 


brig 


1834 


James & Torrey, Block-house 


271 


Andrew and Samuel 


80 


ship 


1696 


Miscel. Scituate 


337 


Angel 


71 


sch. 


1830 


Miscel. Scituate 


344 


Angel 


157 


brig 


1836 


Briggs Yard 


321 


Ann 


296 


ship 


1804 


Kingman, Miscel. Hanover 


126 


Ann 


340 


ship 


1815 


Barstow's " Two Oaks " 


101 


Ann 


204 


brig 


1816 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


193 


Ann Caroline 


190 


brig 


1845 


Barstow Lower Yard 


119 


Ann Rosina 


123 


sch. 


1816 


Tilden, Block-house 


269 


Annawan 


299 


ship 


1801 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Anne 


35 


sip. 


1703 


Briggs Yard 


285 


Antarctic 


101 


sch. 


1851 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


142 


Antelope 


65 


sch. 


1851 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


387 


Apollo 


139 


brigantine 


1792 


Smith Yard 


89 



394 



A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER 



Name. 


Ton- 
nage 


Rig. 


Built 


Towx OR Yard. 


1 


Arcturus 


300 


ship 


1804 


Brick-kiln 


175 


Argo 

Argus 

Arthur Pickering 


221 


ship 


1795 


Rogers Yard 


2i2 


130 


brig 


1845 


Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor 


388 


254 


bk 


1847 


Briggs, Turner & Smith, Brick-kiln 


197 


Asia, aft. Fernando Septimo. 


274 


ship 


1803 


Foster, Wanton 


229 


Atlas 


360 


ship 


18i5 


Foster & Sons, Wanton 


231 


Attila 


206 


brig 


1833 


Clapp & Foster, \^ anion 


239 


Augustus 


325 


ship 


1806 


Delano, Wanton 


225 


Aurelia 


69 


sch. 


1832 


Torrey, Block-house 


271 


Aurora 


244 


ship 


1799 


Smith Yard 


89 


Avon 


299 


bk. 


1831 


Briggs Yard 


320 


Bacheldor 




sch. 


1794 


Stutson, Wanton 


222 


Bachelor 


44 


sch. 


1786 


Chittenden Yard 


246 


Baltimore 


130 


sch. aft. brig 


1826 


James & Torrey, Block -house 


271 


Baltimore 


169 


brig 


1833 


Foster & Co, Wanton 


240 


Banker 


73 


sch. 


1816 


Foster & Co., Wan.on 


233 


Banker 


75 


sch. 


1818 


Barstow Lower Yard 


104 


Barclay 


166 


brig 


1828 


Turner, Palmer & Mngoun, No. River Bridge 


74 


Bay State 


90 


sch. 


1846 


Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor 


389 


Beaver 





ship 


177- 


Thomas, Brick-kiln 


164 


Beaver 





ship 


1791 


Brick-kiln 


167 


Beaver 


29 


sch. 


1814 


Turner, Fox Hill 


133 


Becca or Beckey 


54 


sch. 


1784 


Block-house 


261 


Bedbug 





sip. 


1817 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


233 


Bedford 


180 


sell., then briptn aft. ship 


1772 


Thomas, Brick-kiln 


169 


Bedford 


253 


ship 


1793 


Briggs Yard 


310 


Bee 


33 


sch. 


1777 


North River 


48 


Belle 


35- 


sch. 


18— 


Scituate Harbor 


386 


Benjamin 


20 


sip. aft. brig't'n 


1698 


Wanton 


217 


Benjamin 


30 


sip. 


1705 


Miscel. Scituate 


339 


Benjamin 


188 


ship 


1801 


Samson, No. River Bridge 


70 


Benjamin Franklin 


164 


brig 


18— 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


195 


Betsey 


51 


sch. 


1787 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Betsey 


43 


sch. 


1788 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


Betsey 
Betsey 
Betsey 


51 


sch. 


1790 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


33 


sch. 


1793 


Randall, Miscel. Pembroke 


83 


111 


sch. aft. brig 


1794 


Torrey, Chittenden Yard 


247 


Betsey 


121 


sch. 


1795 


Rogers Yard 


207 


Betsey 
Betsey 
Betsey 
Betsey 
Betsey 


35 


sch. 


1795 


Vinal, Scituate Harbor 


368 


37 


sch. 


1796 


Randall, Miscel Pembroke 


83 


95 


sch. 


1796 


Torrey Chittenden Yard 


247 


60 


sch. 


1798 


Vinal, Scituate Harbor 


369 




ship 


1799 


Smith Yard 


90 


Betsey 


65 


sip. 


1802 


Smith Yard 


92 


Betsey 
Betsey 

Betsev & Mary 
Betsey & Polly 
Betsey Pierce 
Betty 
Billow 




sch. 


1803 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


91 


sch. 


1819 


Torrey Block-house 


270 




sch. 


1817 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


233 


51 


sch. 


1817 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


233 


73 


sch. 


1816 


Foster & Rogers, Wanton 


233 


40 


sip. 


1706 


Miscel. Scituate 


339 


160 


brig 


1824 


Briggs Yard 


316 


Billow 


83 


sch. 


18-29 


Briggs Yard 


319 


Black Hawk 




bk. 


1834 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


196 


Blackthorne 


30 


sip. 


1692 


Wanton 


217" 


Blackthorne 


30 


sip. 


1694 


Briggs Yard 


284 


Blessing 


90 


ship 


1698 


Scituate Harbor 


366 


Blossom 


30 


sip. 


1713 


White's Ferry 


SSft 


Boston 


242 


brig 


18v7 


Wanton & Briggs. Yards 317 


238 


Boston 


170 


brig 


1833 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


240 


Britannia 


163 


ship 


1784 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


Brothers 








1805 


North River 


51 


Byron 


193 


brig 


1824 


Copeland & Co., Fox HiU 


136 


Cadet 


100 


brigantine 


1784 


Brick-kiln 


173 


Caliban 


311 


ship 


1811 


Samson, No. River Bridge 


70 


Callisto 


190 


brigantine 


1802 


Kingman, Miscel. Hanover 


126 


Cameron 


98 


sch. 


1799 


Rogers Yard 


208 


Camilla 


108 


brigantine 


1801 


Smith Yard 


92 


Camilla 


233 


brigantine 


1827 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


238 



AND AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 



395 



Name. 


Ton- 
nage 


Rio. 


Built 


Town or Yard. 




Canowa 


263 


ship 


1805 


Brigffs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Cashier 


73 


brig 


1819 


Copeland, Ford & Pratt, Fox Hill 


135 


Casket 


155 


brig 


1833 


James & Torrey, Block-house 


271 


Caspian 


— 






Foster, Wanton 


229 


Catharine 


85 


sip. 


1793 


North River 


48 


Catharine 


61 


sch. 


1817 


Brigffs Yard 


313 


Catherine 


70 


sch. 


1817 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


195 


Catherine 





— 


1848 


Briggs & Smith. Brick-kiln 


197 


Cent 


— 


brig 




Barstow's " Two Oaks "' 


101 


Centnrion 


47 


sch. 


1786 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Century 


280 


ship 


1806 


Miscel. Hanover 


130 


Charles 


30 


brigantine 


1703 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Charles 


40 


brigantine 


1709 


Block-house 


261 


Charles 


123 


sch. 


1804 


Delano, Wanton 


225- 


Charles 


— 


ship 


1805 


North River 


51 


Charles 


62 


sch. 


1825 


Briggs & Turner, Brick-kiln 


191 


Charles & Henry- 


337 


ship 


1832 


Barstow Lower Yard 


108 


Charleston & Liverpool 


325 


ship 


1806 


Kingman, Miscel. Hanover 


126 


Charlotte [Packet 


154 


ship. 


1800 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Chatham 


65 


sch. 


1844 


Miscel. Scituate 


344 


Chester 


86 


sch. 


1842 


Brigf^s & Turner, Brick-kiln 


197 


Chickasaw 


171 


brig 


1832 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


239 


Cicero 


227 


ship 


1799 


Smith Yard 


90 


Clara Jane 


68 


sch. 


1847 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


386 


Clarendon 


182 


brig 


1845 


Brings, Scituate Harbor 


385 


Clarlnda 


54 


sch. 


1825 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


255 


Clay 


299 


ship 


1818 


Barstow Lower Yard 


104 


Cohannett 


82 


sch. 


1839 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


384 


Columbia 


220 


ship 


1773 


Briggs Yard 


298 


Columbia 


59 


sch. 


1828 


James, Block-house 


271 


Columbia 


285 


ship 


1829 


Barstow Lower Yard 


108. 


Columbia 


75 


sch. 


1834 


Briggs Yard 


320 


Columbia 


131 


brig 


1835 


Brings Yard 


321 


Columbian Packet 


220 


ship 


1802 


White's Ferry 


351 


Columbine 


270 


ship 


1802 


Delano, Wanton 


225 


Columbus 





ship 


1819 


North River 


51 


Combine 


99 


sch. 


1820 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


235 


Commerce 


241 


ship 


1795 


North River 


48 


Conanchet 





sch. 


1848 


Cudworth, Chittenden Yard 


257 


Conclusion 


109 


sch. 


1798 


Rogers Yard 


206 


Constitution 


325 


ship 


1821 


Barstow Lower Yard 


105 


Content 


30 


sip. 


1700 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


Content 


120 


ship 


1702 


(Jhittenden Yard 


244 


Cordelia 


252 


ship 


1805 


Samson, No. River Bridge 


70 


Cordova 





sch. 


1838 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


19(> 


Corel 


335 


ship 


1823 


Miscel. Hanover 


130 


Cornelia 





sch. 


1834 


Briggs & Turner, Brick-kiln 


196 


Cronstadt 


273 


brig 


1829 


Briggs Yard 


317 


Cumberland 


183 


brigantine 


1801 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Cushing 


78 


sch. 


1802 


Briggs Yard 


310 


Cyrene 


58 


sch. 


1819 


Turner & Turner, Fox Hill 


135 


Cyrus 


328 


ship 


1821 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


235 


Daniel 


72 


sch. 


1825 


Hall's, White's Fprry 


355 


Daniel 


240 


bk. 


1854 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


387 


Daniel Davis 









Scituate Harbor 


390 


Daniel Francis 


113 


sch. 


1838 


White's Ferry 


361 


Daniel Webster 


264 


bk. 


1836 


Barstow Lower Yard 


110 


Daniel Webster 





sch. 




Halls, White's Ferry 


360 


Danube 


71 


sch. 


1828 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


192 


Deane 


89 


sch. 


1846 


Barstow Lower Yard 


120 


Debby 


107 


brig 


1792 


Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


273 


Dedalus 





ship 


1800 


Smith Yard 


90 


Defiance 


25 


sch. 


177- 


No. River Pilots 


54 


Deposit 


125 


sch., aft. brig 


1834 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


360 


Desire 


16 


sip. 


1678 


Briggs Yard 


284 


Diana 


51 


sip. 


1783 


Brick-kiln 


173 


Diana 


30 


sch. 


1786 


Miscel. Scituatei 


343 


Diana 


52 


sch. 


1791 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


Dian^ 


— 


brig 


1825 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


236 



396 



A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT OX KOilTH RIVER 



Name. 


Ton- 
nage. 


Rig. 


Built 


Town or Yard. 


Oh 


Diligence 






17— 


Smith Yard 


89 


Diligent 


81 


sch. 


1786 


North River 


48 


Dispatch 


139 


brig 


1795 


Keene, White's Ferry 


351 


Dolphin 


100 


ship 


1696 


Miscel. Scituate 


337 


Dolphin 


30 


sip. 


1710 


Block-house 


261 


Dolphin 


24 


!:ch. 


177- 


No. River Pilots 


53 


Dolphin 


51 


sch. 


1786 


Briggs Yard 


309 


Dolphin 


44 


sch. 


1787 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Dolphin 


122 


brig 


1793 


Keene, White's Ferry 


351 


Dolphin 


78 


sip. 


1794 


Brick-kiln 


174 


Dolphin 


49 


sch. 


1799 


Thomas, Brick-kiln 


174 


Dolphus 


32 


sch. 


1783 


Brick-kiln 


173 


Dorothy 


30 


brigantine 


1700 


Briggs Yard 


285 


Dorothy 


40 


brigantine 


1704 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


Dorothy 


50 


ship 


1708 


Block-house 


261 


Dorothy 


60 


ship 


1710 


Block-house 


261 


Dove 


100 


ship 


1699 


Wanton 


217 


Dove 


45 


brigantine 


1704 


Miscel. Scituate 


333 


Dove 


30 


sip" 


1706 


Scituate Harbor 


368 


Dover 


166 


brig 


1833 


Hall's, While's Ferry 


360 


Dover 


87 


sch. 


1833 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


360 


Dragon 


65 


bark 


1701 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Dragon 


40 


brigantine 


1702 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Draper 


— 






Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


385 


Dray 


— 


sch. 




Hall's, White's Ferry 


356 


Dubartus 


25 


sip. 


1694 


Chittenden Yard 


244 


Eagle 


30 


sip. 


1711 


Block-house 


261 


Eagle 


107 


sch. 


1801 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Eagle 


— 




1818 


North River 


51 


Echo 


197 


brig 


1832 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


359 


Edie Little 


70 


sch. 


1860 


Taylor & Carver, Tavlor 


281 


Edward 


346 


ship 


1815 


Eeils, Smith \ard 


94 


Edwin 


103 


sch. 


1836 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


196 


Eliza 


98 


sch. 


1794 


Rogers Yard 


211 


Eliza 


106 


sch. 


1795 


Rogers Yard 


207 


Eliza 


108 


sch. 


1797 


Randall, Miscel. Pembroke 


83 


Eliza 


70 


sch. 


1798 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


379 


Eliza 


99 


sch. 


1801 


Scituate Harbor 


368 


Eliza 


41 


sch. 


1802 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Eliza 


165 


brig 


1802 


Ford, Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


273 


Eliza 


39 


sch. 


1803 


Turner, Miscel. Pembroke 


82 


Eliza Ann 


312 


ship 


1811 


Barstow's " Two Oaks " 


101 


Eliza Ann 


99 


sch. 


1830 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


192 


Eliza Barker 





ship 


1810 


Miscel. Hanover 


130 


Elizabeth 


20 


sip. 


1700 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


Elizabeth 


20 


sip. 


1705 


Block-house 


260 


Elizabeth 


— 


ship 


1807 


Foster, AVanton 


230 


Ellen 


61 


sch. 


1831 


Merritt, Miscel. Scituate 


340 


Elvira 


— 


brig 




Briggs, Brick-kiln 


184 


Emily Cook 


116 


sch. aft. brig 


1824 


Torrey, Block-house 


270 


Emma Isadora 


213 


bk. 


1838 


Briggs Yard 


321 


Emma V. 


149 


sch 


1852 


Miscel. Scituate & Scituate Harbor 


391 


Empire 


497 


brig 


1848 


Turner, Otis tS: Cole, Scituate Harbor 


390 


Endeavor 


36 


sip. 


1703 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Endeavor 


80 


brigantine 


1705 


Wanton 


218 


Endeavour 


20 


sip. 


1698 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


Enterprise 


119 


sch. 


1806 


Torrey, Chittenden Yard 


250 


Enterprise 


— 


ship 




Torrey, Block-house 


271 


Eos 


85 


sch. 


1818 


Keene, White's Ferry 


352 


Equator 


— 




1818 


North River 


51 


Erie 


113 


sch. 


1838 


Brooks & Tilden 


279 


Esther 





sch. 


1785 


North River 


48 


Esther 


135 


brig 


1835 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


360 


Essex 





ship 


1796 


North River 


49 


Eureka 









Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate 


342 


Evangeline 


488 


bark 


1856 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


387 


Evelina 


109 


sch. 


1799 


Randall, Miscel. Pembroke 


83 


Eveline 


650 


bark 


1859 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


387 


Excel 


74 


sch. 


1848 


Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor 


369 


Expenditure 


40 


sip. 


1702 


Wanton & Barker, Wanton 


218 



AX I) AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 



197 



Name. 


Ton- 
nage 


Rig. 


Built 


Town or Yard. 


1 


Fair Lady 


104 


soh. 


1816 


Samson, No. River Bridge 


70 


Fair Play 


50 


sip. 


1803 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


174 


Fairy 


185 


brig 


1831 


Halls, White's Ferry 


359 


Falcon 


_ 




1822 


North River 


51 


Falcon 


128 


her. brig 


1862 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


143 


Falkland 





ship 


1785 


Thomas, Brick-kiln 


167 


Fame 


140 


brigamine 


1785 


Scituate Harbor 


368 


Fame 





ship 


1801 


Smith Yard 


92 


Fame 


— 


brig 


1801 


Smith Yard 


92 


Fame 


83 


sch. 


1807 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


174 


Fame 


47 


sch. 


1817 


Turner, Fox Hill 


134 


Fanny 


67 


sch. 


1794 


Vinal, Scituate Harbor 


368 


Fanny 


— 


ship 


1817 


Miscel. Hanover 


130 


Favorite 


74 


sch. 


1815 


Foster. Wanton 


229 


Favorite 


64 


sch. 


1788 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Federal George 


103 


sch. 


1794 


Rogers Yard 


208 


Fish Hawk 


41% 


sch. 


1787 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Fish Hawk 


46 


sch. 


1797 


Vinal, Scituate Harbor 


369 


Five Brothers 


93 


sch. 


1804 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Flora 


306 


ship 


1801 


Tiiden, Block-house 


264 


Flora 


151 


brig 


1829 


White's Ferry 


358 


Flora 


293 


bk. 


1831 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


256 


Flora 


70 


sch. 


1848 


Scituate Harbor 


369 


Florida 


244 


brig 


1818 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


184 


Flying Fish 


32 


sch. 


1787 


North River 


48 


Forest Bell 


44 


sch. 


1862 


Merritt, Chittenden Yard 


257 


Forest Oak 


62 


sch. 


1862 


MeiTitt, Chittenden Yard 


257 


Fortune 


339 


ship 


1809 


Foster, Wanton 


229 


Foster 


317 


ship 


1818 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


234 


Four Brothers 


53 


sch. 


1811 


Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate 


341 


Four Brothers 


__ 


sch. 


1818 


Miscel. Scituate 


344 


Four Brothers 


53 


sch. 


1857 


Scituate Harbor 


391 


Four Friends 


75 


sch. 


1811 


Rogers Yard 


208 


Four Sisters 


67 


sch. 


1819 


Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate 


341 


Frances, aft."Larke" 


20 


sip. 


1704 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


Frances Ann 





ship 


1810 


Foster, Wanton 


230 


Francis 


291 


ship 


1805 


Barstows, " Two Oaks " 


101 


Francis 





ship 


1816 


Barstows, " Two Oaks " 


101 


Franciscan 





ship 


1811 


Foster, Wanton 


231 


Franklin 


179 


ship 


1792 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


Franklin 




bk. 


1817 


Miscel. Hanover 


130 


Franklin 


172 


brig 


1840 


Wanton 


242 


Franklin 




brig 


18— 


Turner, Scituate Harbor 


388 


Frederic 


107 


sch. 


1801 


Barstow, " Two Oaks " 


100 


Frederic 


107 


sch. 


1801 


Miscel. Hanover 


130 


Frederic 


153 


brig 


1801 


Cushing & Co., Miscel. Hanover 


127 


Freedom 


54 


sch. 


1823 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


255 


Friendship 


60 


ship 


1711 


Briggs Yard 


285 


Friendship 


60 


brigantine 


1712 


Biock-house 


261 


Friendship 


118 


brig 


1786 


North River 


48 


Friendship 


49 


sch. 


1788 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Friendship 


79 


sch. 


1807 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Friendship 


53 


sch. 


1816 


Copeland, Fox Hill 


134 


Friends' Adventure 


30 


sip. 


1698 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


Friends' Adventure 


50 


brigantine 


1702 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Ganges 


215 


ship 


1806 


Delano, Wanton 


225 


Ganges 


250 


bk 


1833 


Clapp & Foster, Wanton 


239 


Garland 


128 


brigantine 


1795 


Foster, Wanton 


229 


Garland 


280 


ship 


1801 


Smith Yard 


91 


Garnet 


65 


sch. 


1836 


Turner, No. River Bridge 


75 


Gem 


162 


brig 


1830 


Hall's, Whites's Ferry 


358 


George 


82 


sch. 


1801 


P'oster, Wanton 


229 


George 







1816 


North River 


51 


George Otis 


175 


brig 


1844 


Barstow Lower Yard 


119 


George Washington 


130 


brig't'n aft. brig 


1800 


Rogers Yard 


212 


George Washington 


67 


sch. 


1820 


Turner, Fox Hill 


135 


Globe 


293 


ship 


1815 


Foster & Sons Wanton 


231 


Golconda 





ship 


1807 


Foster, Wanton 


230- 


Golconda 


78 


sch. 


1818 


Brooks, Miscel. Scituate 


341 



S98 



A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT ON NOllTH KIVER 



Name. 



<5olden Horn 
Goodhope 
Good Luck 
<joree 

Gov. Brooks 
Governor Gore 
Governor Strong 
Grand Island 

Hamilton 

H annah 

Hannah 

Hannah 

Hannah 

Hannah 

Hannah 

Hannah 

Hannah 

Hannah 

Hannah 

Hannah & Eliza 

Hannah Eddy 

Hanover 

Hanover 

Hanson 

Harlequin 

Harmony 

Harmony 

Harriott 

Harriot 

Hart 

Hawk 

Hazard 

Hebe 

Hector 

Hector 

Helen 

Helen 

Helen M. Foster 

Helena 

Hellenoh 

Heman Smith 

Henery 

Hennereta 

Hennitta 

Henrietta 

Hero 

Heroine 

Hisgins 

Hilah or Hilo 

Home 

Hope 

Hope 

Hope 

iHope 

Hope 

Hope 

Hope on 

Hopewell 

HoiJewell 

Hopewell 

Hopewell 

Hopewell 

Hopewell 

Hopewell 

Hopewell 

Horn 

Howland 

Huron 

Huron 

Hycso 



Ton- 


Rig. 


Built 


nage. 










18— 


25 


lietch 


1694 


70 


brigantine 


1706 


336 


ship 


1823 


72 


sch. 


1817 


302 


ship 


1809 







1817 


106 


sch. 


1836 


164 


brig 


1830 


70 


ship 


1699 


60 


brigantine 


1700 


35 


sip. 


177- 


27 


sch. 


1780 


40 


sip. 


1787 


45 


sch. 


1788 


130 


brigantine 


1790 


118 


sch. 


1800 


138 


sch. 


1802 


50 


sch. 


1805 


255 


ship 


1800 


414 


ship 


1817 


281 


ship 


1801 


32!) 


ship 


1827 


47 


sip. 


1833 


336 


ship 


1800 





ship 


1767 


51 


sch 


1785 


60 


sch. 


1800 


202 


bk. 


1834 


40 


sip. 


1707 





sch. 


1785 





sch. 


1799 


171 


brig 


1829 






1791 


61 


sip. 


1802 


100 


sch. aft. brig't'n 


1793 


277 


ship 


1795 


90 


sch. 


1871 




ship 


1806 





ship 


1811 


123 


her. brig 


18()6 





ship 


1806 


20 


sip. 


1703 


__ 


ship 





279 


ship 


1805 







1818 


337 


ship 


1815 





brig 




390 


ship 


1833 


136 


sch. aft. brig 


1837 


40 


l)rigantine 


1692 


30 


ketch 


1700 


38 


sch. 


1783 


55 


sch. 


1784 


134 


brigantine 


1785 


54 


sch. 


1787 


191 


sch. 


1869 


40 


sip. 


1694 


40 


brigantine 


1694 


35 


sip. 


1696 


60 


sip. aft. brig't'n 


1697 


— 


brigantine 


1697 


30 


sip. 


1699 


30 


sip. 


1701 


20 


sip. 


1706 


__ 


sch. 


1850 





ship 


1811 





ship 


1804 


106 


sch. 


1837 


290 


ship 


1816 



Town or Yard. 



Briggs, Scituate Harbor 
Briggs Yard 
Miscel. Scituate 
Barstow Lower Yard 
Foster & Co.. Wanton 
Barstow's " Two Oaks " 
North River 
White's Ferry 

Briggs Yard 

Chittenden Yard 

Wanton 

No. River Pilots 

Scituate Harbor 

Miscel. Scituate 

Brick-kiln 

North River 

Delano, Wanton 

Kent, Scituate Harbor 

Brick-kiln 

Foster, Wanton 

Turner, Otis & Cole, Scituate Harbor 

Smith Yard 

Barstow Lower Yard 

Briggs & Turner, Brick-kiln 

Delano, ^Vanton 

Thomas, Brick-kiln 

Briggs Yard 

Scituate Harbor 

Barstow Lower Yard 

Block-house 

Miscel. Hanover 

Smith Yard 

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 

North River 

Smith Yard 

Brooks, Tiiden & Taylor 

Lewis, Brick-kiln 

Merritt, Chittenden Yard 

Misel. Scituate 

Foster, Wanton 

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 

Barstow's " Two Oaks " 

Miscel. Scituate 

Barstow's "Two Oaks" 

Barstow's " Two Oaks " 

North River 

Copeland, Fox Hill 

Turner, Scituate Harbor 

M aterman & Bates, Fox-Hill 

Barstow Lower Yard 

Briggs Yard 

Miscel. Scituate 

Stutson, Wanton 

Thomas, Brick-kiln 

North River 

Miscel. Scituate 

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 

Wanton 

Chittenden Yard 

Miscel. Scituate 

Miscel. Scituate 

Miscel. Scituate 

Edward Wanton, Wanton 

Wanton 

Wanton 

Taylor & Carver, Taylor 

Foster, Wanton 

Miscel. Hanover 

Brooks & Tiiden 

Barstows " Two Oaks " 



AND AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 



399 



Name. 


Ton- 
nage 


Rig. 


Built 


Town or Yard. 


O) 

to 


Ida 


363 


ship 


1809 


Delano, Wanton 


225 


Imogene 


179 


bk. 


1840 


Barstow Lower Yard 


111 


Independence 


160 


brig 


1804 


Torrey, Chittenden \ ard 


250 


Independence 


87 


sch. 


1811 


Cole, Chittenden Yard 


252 


Independence 


311 


ship 


1817 


Barstow's "Two Oaks " 


102 


Indus 


338 


ship 


1799 


Delano, Wanton 


224 


Industry 


20 


sip. 


1682 


Briggs Yard 


284 


Industry 


40 


sip. 


1702 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Industry 


31 


sch. 


1781 


North River 


48 


Industry 


42 


sch. 


1785 


Stutson, Wanton 


222 


Industry 


61 


sch. 


1785 


Briggs Yard 


309 


Industry 


60 


sip. 


1789 


Keene, White's Ferry 


•351 


Industry 


— 


sch. 


1796 


Stutson, Wanton & Scituate H'b'r 368 


222 


Industry 


68 


sch. 


1803 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Industry 


— 


sch. 





Briggs, Brick-kiln 


195 


Intrepid 


282 


ship 


1805 


Smith Yard 


93 


Iris 


80 


sch. 


1797 


Briggs Yard 


310 


Isabella 


308 


ship 


1807 


Kingman, Miscel. Hanover 


126 


Ivanhoe 


192 


brig 


1828 


Briggs Yard 


317 


J. A. Jesuroon 


200 


bark 


1845 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


385 


James 


100 


sch. 


1805 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 





James & Thomas 


30 


sip. 


1699 


Scituate Harbor 


366 


James Bayard 


85 


sch. 


1802 


Chittenden Yard 


250 


James Francis 


101 


sch. 


1837 


White's Ferry 


361 


James Otis 


80 


sch. 


1827 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


192 


James W. Paige 


198 


bk. 


1841 


Curtis, Scituate Harbor 


384 


James Wyman 


65 


sch. 


1852 


Turner, Otis & Co., Scituate Harbor 


391 


Jane 


120 


sch. 


1793 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


Jane 


145 


brig 


1793 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


Jane 


65 


sch. 


1795 


Chittenden Yard 


246 


Jane 


98 


sch. 


1802 


Sampson, No. River Bridge 


70 


Japan 


332 


ship 


1822 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


235 


Jefferson 


267 


ship 


1801 


Rogers, Brick-kiln 


182 


Jenny 


63 


sch. 


1784 


North River 


48 


Jolin 


40 


brigantine 


1702 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


John 


60 


sch. 


1786 


Brick-kiln 


173 


John & Abial 


100 


ship 


1698 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


John & Abiel 


60 


brigantine 


1695 


Miscel. Scituate 


337 


John & Abigail 


25 


sip. 


1683 


Briggs Yard 


284 


John & Daniel 


30 


sip. 


1703 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


John & David 


60 


ship 


1704 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


John & Dorothy 


40 


brigantine 


1702 


Block-house 


260 


John & Dorothy 


80 


ship 


1711 


Miscel. Scituate 


339 


John & Elizabeth 


70 


ship 


1701 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


John & Elizabeth 


295 


ship 


1825 


Barstow Lower Yard 


106 


John B. Dods 


160 


brig 


1840 


Miscel. Scituate 


344 


John J. Eaton 


43 


sch. 


1845 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


385 


Jolly Tar 


— 


sch. 




Waterman, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Joseph & Benjamin 


30 


sip. 


1684 


Brigss Yard 


284 


Jos. Atkins 


131 


sch. 


1838 


Miscel. Scituate 


344 


Joseph Balch 


153 


brig 


1840 


Brooks & Tilden 


279 


Josephine 


232 


brig 


1833 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


256 


Joshua Bates 


65 


sch. 


1846 


Cudworth, Chittenden Yard 


257 


Joshua Brown 


112 


sch. 


1838 


White's Ferry 


361 


Joshua E. Bowley 


95 


sch. 


1851 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


142 


J. Setter 


58 


sch. 


1846 


Scituate Harbor 


385 


Julian 









Foster & Co., Wanton 


236 


Juno 


90 


sip. 


1786 


Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


273 


Juno 


85 


sch. 


1825 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


192 


Justice Story 


199 


bk. 


1845 


Barstow Lower Yard 


119 


Katharine 


25 


sloop 


1694 


Miscel. Scituate 


336 


Kemp 


— 


sch. 


1836 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


196 


Kenedos 







18— 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


195 


Kemison 


127 


brig 


1852 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


142 


Kingstou 


— 




1822 


North River 


51 


Laban 


87 


BCh. 


1822 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


255 


Lady Gallatin 


358 


ship 


1811 


Delano, Smith Yard 


93 



400 



A JJh'J OF VKHHKLS liCILT ON NOJt'l If I!lVi:it 



Name, 



Lady Ma/lJHon 

Lady Wahhirifrt/jn 

I, a Orange 

I,a(/oda 

Lake 

Lake 

Lapwirif? 

J.apwing 

Lark 

Lark 

Larke, afterward called 

Laura jthe "Franciii" 

J-aura Arjn 

I^aurel 

J,awreri(« 

J^eadcr 

1/iader 

J/;da 

J>(;onida8 

J^onidaH 

J>eoriidaH 

J>;oi>o)d Gaily 

l>;variie 

J><:wi« liruce 

Lexirigfjn 

LU>erty 

Llf>erty 

Light Horse 

Lima 

Linnell 

Lion 

Lltcij field 

Little Cticruti 

Little Martha 

Little Otii! 

Lively 

Lively 

I>ively 

Li/,/,ie J. ljt{rtU)W 

Lo[><;r 

l>;ljiha 

Ix/uiha 

lyoulha A. 

Ijjf.ieh 

Liieretia 

J-'i'-y 

i,ij'y 

Lij'-y 

Jyijcy 

Lucy 

Lrjey 

Ltjf;y 

J^iike 

Lywiirn 

i^yeciim 

Lydia 

Lydia 

Lydia 

I>ydia 

Lydia 

Lydia 

Lydia 

Lydia 

Lydia & Polly 

Lydia & I'olly 

I^ydia King 

Lyon 

Lyon 

Ly(»an'ier 



162 




60 


(ich. 


'.rj 


Mch. 


122 


8Ch. 


.- 


Khip 


114 


HCb. 


w 


HCh. 


60 


Hf;h. 


M 


KCb. 


v.) 


8Cb. 


39 


«ch. 


93 


BCh. 


72 


HCh. 


m 


iirigantine 


v.:> 


HCb. 


54 


lich. 


— 


8Cb. 


SO 


8eb. 


100 


Mlp. 


M 


HCb. 


81 


H<:h. 


28f) 


Hliip 


329 


Kbip 


102 


seb. 


— 


Hch. 


22 


Mib. 


V) 


Hip. 


70 


Hip. 


110 


brig 



Towir OB Yabd. 



Delano, WanU^n 
North River 
Merritt, Mi>-(*1. Kcituate 
l-ofcter Ac Co., \Vant*<n 
Waterman, Fox Hill 
Taylor A; Carver, Taylor 
Mi/iiti Yard 

IJriggH, HeituaU; HariK^r 
Mihcel. Hanover 
Turner, Fox Hill 
Mit!(^fl. Hcituate 
Kingman, MiK(«I. Hanover 
I'rjrner, IJrick-klln 
IJrifk-kiln 

iTurner, HcituaU! Harbor. 
'l>arhl/jw'h "Two Oaks" 
IHall'H, WhiU;'», Ferry 
]f.'of<eland & Co., I'ox Hill 
iLrick-kiln 
MiK«;l. Hanover 
ITurner, liriek-kilri 
Souther K Cudworth, Chittf;nden Yd 
Hriggii Yard 

Torrey /t .Jamew, Block-boube 
I'rookh & Tilden 
Copeland K: Co., I'ox Hill 
Kent, S'ituaU; Hari<or 
Vinal, Hcituate Harbor 
I'orrey, Cljittenden Yard 
Hrick-kiln 
.Seitiiaie Harbor 
FohUjr He Co., WnuUm, 
Liiehlield A iJurriil, WanUjn 
haUiH, Mihcel. Hanover 
.Merritt, Miticel. Heituate 
Scituate Harl<or 
.Merritt, CljitU;riden Yard 
ScituaU; Hart>'jr 
JJriggK, Lrick-kiln 
IJariitow A: Waterman, Fox Hill 
.North Uivcr 

.Souther K. Cudworth, Chittx;nden Yd 
Souther K. Cudworth, ChitU:nden Yd 
liarbUjw iic WatArmiin, I'ox Hill 
M\h<-jc\. Hanover 
iJarHtfjw'h " Two Oaku " 
North Jliver 
Mii5(«l. Seituate 
MifiwI. Hcituate 
Itogers Yard 
Hcituate Harl<or 
.Mihwl. Hanover 
liriggb Yard 
Llo':lJ hoiibC 

f;o[j<;land & Co., Fox Hill 
Hcituate Hariior 
Mih'M;!. Hanover 
Silvehter, No. lliver liridge 
Chittenden Yard 
lirick-kiln 
.MiKf«l. Hanover 
Torrey, Chittenden Yard 
Hmitb Yard 
llanjt^iw'i! 1/^wer Yard 
I Vinal, Hcituate Harbor 
IllriggH, Hcitiiatf; Harbor 
J>it*;bfield A: Lurrili, Wanfjn 
IJriggH Yard 
lilock-bouMs 

.Turutr, l'«li(i«r fc Mtfoun, Vo. W»tf Uriiit* 



AND AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 



401 



Name. 



Madapascar 
Maf?iiolia 
Mafiriolia 
Malatmr 
Malaga 
Man son 
Manson 
Margaret 
Margaret 
Margaret 
Maria 
Maria 

Maria Theresa 
Mariner 
Marion 

Marnix (see "Martha") 
Marnix 
Mars 

Marshal Ney 
Martha 
Martha 

Martha, afterward called 
Martha ["Marnix" 

Martha 

Martha & Elizabeth 
Martha & Elizabeth 
Martha Allen 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary- 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary 
Mary 

Mary & Abigail 
Mary & Abigail 
Mary & Nancy 
Mary & Polly 
Mary Ann 
Mary Ann 
Mary Ann 
Mary Ballard 
Mary F. SJade 
Mary Greenish 
Mary Jones 
Marys 

Massachusetts 
Massachusetts 
Matilda 

Mattakeeset or Mattakees 
Mayflower 
Mayflower 
Mayflower 
Mayflower 
Mayflower 
Mayflower 
Mayflower 
Mehetable 
Mentor 
Mentor 
Merchant 
Merchant 
Mert 



Ton- 
nage. 


Rig. 


Built 


242 


bk. 


1832 


36 islp. 


1828 


2o0 


brig 


1830 


355 


ship 


1815 


IfO 


brig 


1827 


93 


sch. 


1842 


20 


sip. 


1701 


89 


sch. 


1816 


185 


brig 


182fJ 


— 


ship 


1782 


64 


sch. 


1830 


229 


brig 


1827 


— 


sch. 


1817 


98 


brig 


1824 





bk. 


1805 


225 


bk. 


1849 


53 sch. 


1786 


192 brig 


1829 


50 Ijrigantine 


1712 


192 ship 


1801 


255 bk. 


1805 


— 'ship 


1809 


273 


ship 


1810 


70 


bk. 


1694 


70 


brigantine 


1694 


283 


bk. 


1849 


60 


bk. 


1693 


80 ship 


1694 


40 brigantine 


1699 


20 Islp. 


1700 


20 islp. 


1707 


22 sip. 


178f; 


286 ship 


1795 


169 brig't'n, aft. ship 


1799 


100 sch. 


1801 


211 


ship 


1801 


99 


sch. 


1804 


82 


sch. 


1804 


73 


sch. 


1843 


30 


sip. 


Km 


40 


sip. 


nor, 


41 


sch. 


1795 


77 


sch. 


1816 


78 


brigantine 


1789 


242 


ship 


1799 


76 


sch. 


1818 


260 


bk. 


1832 


199 


bk. 


1818 


140 


sch. 


1859 


56 


sch. 


1818 


329 


ship 


1831 


400 


ship 


178- 


286 


ship 


180f^ 


60 


sch. 


1818 


21 


St. toat 


1839 


25 


sip. 


1691 


30 


brig 


1701 


30 


sip. 


1701 


25 


sip. 


17W 


30 


brigantine 


1712 





sch. 


1803 


32 


sip. 


182.3 


86 


ship 


1700 


— 


ship 


1803 


98 


sch. 


1825 


179 


ship 


179t 


263 


ship 


1804 


131 


sch. 





Town oe Yahd. 



Clapp & Foster, Wanton 

Tumi-r, I'ulmir & Mh(?<>uii, No, lllvijr liridK'J 

Foster & Co., Wanton 
Torrey and others, Block-house 
Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 
Waterman, Fox Hill 

Wanton 

Foster & Cudworth, Chittenden Yard 

Foster & Co., Wanton 

Thomas, Brick-kiln 

Souther /t Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 

James, Block-house 

Barstow's "Two Oaks" 

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 

Samson, No. River Bridge. 

Miscel. Scituate 

Brick-kiln 

Foster & Co., Wantfjn 

Block-house 

Kent, Scituate Harbor 

Sarnson, No. River Bridge 

Rarnson, No. River Bridge 

Sampson, Brick-kiln 

Wantfjn 

Wanton 

Briggs, Scituate Harbor 

Briggs Yard 

Briggs Yard 

Chittenden Yard 

Want^jn & Barker, V/anton 

Edward Want<jn, Wanton 

lirick-kiln 

James, BI<x:k-house 

Miscel., Hanover 

Turner Miscel. Pembroke 

Smith Yard 

James, Block-house 

Kent, Scituate Harbor 

Vinal, Scituate Harbor 

Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor 

Scituate Harbor 

Whit<;'s Ferry 

Chittenden Yard 

Tilden, Block-house 

Brick-kiln 

James, Block-house 

Briggs Yard 

Copeland & Co., Vox Hill 

Turner, Otis & Cole, Scituate Harlxjr 

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 

Turner, Fox Hill 

Barstow I>ower Yard 

Briggs Yard 

Tunier, Misfxd. Hanover 

Briggs & Smith, Brick-kiln 

Halls, White's Ferry 

Miscel., Scituate 

.VIisf;el., Scituate 

Block-house 

Briggs Yard 

Miscel., Scituate 

I/Cwis, Brick-kiln 

Briggs, brick-kiln 

Chittenden Yard 

Miscel., Hanover 

UnTHlDw Ixjwer Yard 

Chittenden Yard 

Smith Yard 

EellB, Smith Yard 



402 



A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT OX NORTH RIVER 



Nasie. 


TON- 
NAOE 


Rio. 


Built 


Town or Yard. 




Meteor 


116 


sch. 


1S64 


Scituate Harbor 


391 


Miantinomo 


281 


ship 


1800 


Kingman, Miscel. Hanover 


126 


Michael & Samuel 


60 


brigantine 


1697 


Miscel., Scituate 


337 


Miobifjan 





brig 


183- 


Brooks & Tildea 


279 


Michigan 


130 


brig 


1840 


Briggs Yard 


322 


Milo 


53 


sch. 


1816 


Turnei & Copeland, Fox Hill 


134 


Minerva 







1774 


North River 


48 


Minerva 


223 


ship 


1808 


Magoun, Brick-kiln 


183 


Minerva 


70 


sch. 


1818 


Foster & Co. Wanton 


234 


Miranda 


189 


bk. 


1832 


Hriggs & Turner, Brick-kiln 


192 


Miser 


304 


ship 


1810 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Modoc 





ship 


1810 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Mohawk 


407 


ship 


1811 


Turner, Miscel. Hanover 


127 


Molly 


55 


sch. 


1785 


North River 


48 


Monroe 


47 


sch. 


1817 


Turner, Miscel. Scituate 


341 


Monument 


211 


brig 


1825 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


184 


Morning Star 


82 


sch. 


1803 


Rogers Yard 208 


340 


Morning Star 


65 


sch. 


1816 


Turner & Copeland, Fox Hill 


134 


Morris 





sch. 




Tunier, Scituate Hartxir 


388 


Moscow 


277 


brig 


1826 


Copeland & Co., Fox Hill 


136 


Moses Myers 


306 


ship 


1803 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Mount Hope 


65 


sch. 


1827 


Mis'cel. Scituate 


344 


Mount Vernon 


464 


ship 


1815 


Hartt, Wanton 


226 


Mt. Vernon 


352 


ship 


1810 


Kingman, Miscel. Hanover 


126 


N. & H. Gould 


142 


sch. 


1855 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


142 


Nancy 


41 


sip. 


1787 


Brick-kiln 


173 


Nancy 


94 


sch. 


1803 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Nancy 


177 


brig 


1806 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Nancy 


75 


sip. 


1817 


Foster & Co., Wanton 210 


233 


Nanking 


290 


ship 


1803 


Kingman, Miscel. Hanover 


126 


Nashua 


301 


bk. 


1S;?3 


Souther iv Cudwortli, Chittenden Yd 


256 


Nautilus 


60 


sch. 


1786 


Brick-kiln 


173 


Nellie Fenwick, formerly 


— 


bk. 


1854 


Scituate Harbor 


391 


Neptune [called Sarah 


— 


ship 


1765 


Thomas, Brick-kiln 


164 


Neptune 


67 


sch. 


1785 


North River 


48 


Neptune 


«4 


sch. 


1787 


Keene, White's Ferry 


351 


Neptune 


114 


sch. 


1794 


Rogers Yard 


206 


Neptune 


138 


brig 


1795 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


Neptune 


280 


ship 


1800 


Smith Yard 


90 


Neptune 


278 


ship 


18()<) 


Smith Yard 


93 


Neptune 


214 


brig 


1823 


Foster & (Jo., Wanton 


236 


Neptune 


338 


bk. 


1828 


Barstow Lower Yard 


107 


Neptune 


231 


bk. 


1835 


Foster & Co, Wanton 


240 


Neutrality 


123 


sch. 


1804 


Magoun & Hatch, Brick-kiln 


183 


New Forge 


37 


sip., aft'ward sch. 


1792 


Barstow, " Two Oaks " 


97 


New Priscilla 


125 


sch. 


1822 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


235 


New Sally 
New Sophronia 


56 


sch. 


1812 


Torrey, Chittenden Yard 


252 


69 


sch. 


1815 


Tilden, Block-house 


268 


New State 


51 


sch. 


1798 


Miscel., Hanover 


130 


Newton 


283 


brig 


1828 


Halls, White's Ferry 


358 


Niagara 


232 


bk. 


1834 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


240 


Ninety 


90 


ship 


1693 


Briggs Yard 


284 


Noble E. Jenkins 


100 


sch. 




Briggs, Brick-kiln 


195 


Norfolk 





brig 


1765 


Thomas, Brick-kiln 


164 


Norfolk 


135 


brig 


1833 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


359 


North River 


27 


sip. 


1793 


Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


273 


North River Packet 


38 


sip. 


1820 


Keene, White's Ferry 


352 


Oak 


150 


brig 


1820 


Briggs Yard 


315 


Oak 


208 


brig 


1833 


Briggs Yard 


320 


O'Cain 


280 


ship 


1802 


Foster, Wanton 


229 


Ocean 


73 


sch. 


1816 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


233 


Ocean 


173 


brig 


1823 


Briggs Yard 


316 


Ocean 


165 


brig 


1839 


Barstow Lower Yard 


111 


Ocean Belle 


65 


sch. 


18(i0 


Brings, Scituate Harbor 


387 


Odessa 


180 


brig 


1830 


Copeland & Co., Fox Hill 


137 


Oeno 


328 


ship 


1821 


Barstow Lower Yard 


105 


Old Carpenter 


•>2 


sch. 


1813 


WaterTnan, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Old Colony 


244 


brig 


1832 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


184 



AND AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 



403 



Name. 


Ton- 
nage 


Rig. 


Built 


Town or Yard. 


bo 
eS 
P^ 


Olive 


70 


sch. 


1797 


Brick-kiln 


174 


Only Daughter 


70 


sch. 


1829 


Clapp & Delano, Wanton Yard 


226 


Only Son 


170 


brig 


1805 


Turner & Thomas, Brick-kiln 


175 


Only Son 


23 


sch. 


1860 


Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate 


342 


Ontario 


367 


ship 


1833 


Waterman & Bates, Fox Hill 


138 


Ontario 


— 


sch. 


1825 


BripRS Yard 


317 


Ontario 


92 


sch. 


1838 


Turner, Scituate Harbor 


388 


Oracle 


144 


brig 


1818 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


381 


Oregon 


200 


brig 


1826 


Briggs Yard 


317 


Oregon 


— 


brig 





Kent, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Orianna 


Ill 


sch. 


1837 


Turner, Scituate Harbor 


388 


Orient 


42 


sch. 


1813 


Turner, Fox Hill 


133 


Orion 


60 


sch. 


1829 


Copeland & Co., Fox Hill 


137 


Orleans 


100 


sch. 




White's Ferry 


361 


Otho 


132 


brig 


1838 


Waterman, Fox Hill 


139 


Otis 


87 


sch. 


1846 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


386 


Outesie 


99 


sch. 


1838 


Stetson and others, "Two Oaks " 


102 


Pacific 





brig 


1796 


Stutson, Wanton 


222 


Pacific 


314 


sliip 


1818 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


234 


Pacific Trader 


141 


snow 


1796 


Rogers Yard 


208 


Packet 


22 


sip. 


1796 


Miscel. Hanover 


129 


Packet 


37 


sip. 


1800 


Nash, Chittenden Yard 


249 


Packet 


52 


sip. 


1804 


Miscel , Hanover 


130 


Packett 


22 


sip. 


1802 


Miscel., Hanover 


130 


Palermo 


— 




1835 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


196 


Pallas 


156 


brig 


1800 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


184 


Parana 


209 


brii 


1844 


Miscel., Hanover 


130 


Paulina 


74 


sch. 


1792 


Miscel., Hanover 


129 


Pauline 


148 


sch. aft. brig, 


1837 


Barstow Lower Yard 


110 


Pauline Taylor 


150 


brig 


1838 


Miscel., Hanover 


130 


Patty 


20 


sip. 


177- 


No. River Pilots 


53 


Patty 


56 


sch. 


1785 


Scituate Harbor 


368 


Pearl 





ship 


1802 


Smith & Bass, Smith Yard 


92 


Peggy 


37 


sch. 


1787 


Brick-kiln 


373 


Peggy 


134 


brig 


1792 


North River 


48 


Pembroke 


193 


ship 


1801 


Sampson, Brick-kiln 


182 


Pembroke 


199 


brig 


1820 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


184 


Pembrook 


184 


ship 





Samson, No. River Bridge 


70 


Penn 





ship 


1818 


Miscel., Hanover 


130 


Perfect 


68 


sch. 


1830 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


192 


Perfect 


26 


sch. 


1868 


Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate 


342 


Perseverance 


214 


ship 


1801 


Foster, Wanton 


229 


Perseverance 


184 


brig 


1815 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


193 


Persis 


90 


sch. 


1792 


Rogers Yard 


2 6 


Peru 


257 


ship 


1818 


Barstow Lower Yard 


103 


Peruvian 


334 


ship 


1818 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


234 


Pharamond 


84 


sch. 


1818 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yard 


254 


Phenix 


314 


ship 


1830 


Barstow Lower Yard 


108 


Philenda 


72 


sch. 


1817 


Tilden Block-house 


270 


Philenia 


96 


sch. 


1835 


Turner, No. River Bridge 


75 


Phllena Otis 







1828 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


195 


Phoebe 


117 


sch. 


1806 


Torrey, Block-houso 


263 


Phoenix 


68 


sch. 


1789 


North River 


48 


Phoenix 


150 


brig 


1839 


White's Ferry 


361 


Pico 





sip. 




Rogers Yard 


213 


Pilgrim 


62 


sch. 


1809 


Smith Yard 


93 


Pilot 


199 


bk. 


1837 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


361 


Pioneer 


231 


brig 


1824 


Foster & Co.. Wanton 


236 


Pinta 


207 


sch. 


1865 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


144 


Planet 


98 


sch. 


1836 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


360 


Planet 





sch. 




Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


384 


Pocahontas 


279 


ship 


1803 


Barstow's "Two Oaks" 


100 


Pocahontas 


41 


sch. 


1838 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


384 


Polly 


18 


sip. 


177- 


So. River Pilots 


53 


Polly 


52 


sch. 


1784 


Miscel., Hanover 


129 


Polly 


52 


sch. 


1784 


Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


272 


Polly 


69 


sch. 


1784 


Block-house 


261 


Polly 


40 


sch. 


1789 


Miscel., Scituate 


343 


PoUy 


131 


brig 


1791 


Brick-kiln 


174 



404 



A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER 



Namb. 


Ton- 
nage. 


Rig. 


3UILT 


Town or Yakd. 


8, 


Polly 
Polly 
Polly 
Polly 
Polly 
President 


52 


BCh. 


1793 Vinal, Scituate Harbor 


368 


23 


BCh. 


1797 


Sherman, Miscel. Pembroke 


83 


39 


BCh. 


1798 


Scituate Harbor 


36S 


114 


sch. 


1800 


:'aker, Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


273 


35 


sip. 


1809 


Sherman, Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


273 


85 


sch. 


1817 


Souther, Chittenden Yard 


253 


President Harrison 


65 


sch. 


1841 


Miscel., Scituate 


344 


President Washington 


49 


sch. 


1834 


:jhittenden Yard 


256 


Primrose 


50 


brigantine 


1694 


Miscel. Scituate 


337 


Primrose 


71 


sch. 


1821 


Tilden, Block-house 


270 


Priscilla 


61 


sch. 


1803 


Briggs Yard 


310 


Protection 


270 


ship 


1805 


Hartsow's "Two Oaks" 


101 


Providence 


100 


ship 


1698 


Scituate Harbor 


366 


Providence 


80 


ship 


1699 


Briggs Yard 


284 


Prudence & Dorothy 


60 


ship 


1699 


Briggs Yard 


285 


Prudent Sarah 


.50 


brigantine 


1700 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


Pyretus 


57 


sch. 


1831 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


383 


Queen 


100 


sch. 


1836 


Turner, No. River Bridge 


75 


Rachel 


59 


sch. 


1820 


Rogers Yard 


210' 


Railway 


86 


sch. 


1829 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


192 


Rambler 







1818 


North River 


51 


Ranger 
Ranger 
Rapid 
Reaper 


65 


sip. 


177- 


North River Pilots 


53 


57 


sch. 


1819 


Walter Foster, Wanton Yard 


234 


48 


sip. 
sen. 


1817 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


233 


94 


1837 


Turner, Scituate Harbor 


388 


Rebecca, Lately csllcd victory. 


90 


ship 


1705 


Briggs Yard 


285 


Rebecca 


77 


sch. 


1798 


Miscel. Hanover 


130 


Rebecca 


62 


sch. 


1831 


Souther & Cud worth, Chittenden Yd 


256 


Rebecca 


63 


sch. 


1836 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


257 


Red Rover 


99 


sch. 


1838 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


196 


Red Rover 








Litclifield, Miscel. Scituate 


342 


Regulua 


237 


ship 


1807 


Torrey, Chittenden Yard 


250 


Reindeer 


20 


sch. 


1798 


Rogers Yard 


212 


Resolution 




sch. 


17— 


Smith Yard 


89 


Revenue 


27 


sch. 


1789 


Kells, Smith Yard 


93 


Revival 


44 


sch. 


1790 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Revival 


44 


sch. 


1791 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Revival 


39 


sch. 


1791 


Briggs Yard 


309 


Rice Plant 


122 


brig 


1824 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


255 


Richmond 


116 


brig 


1817 


Turner, Miscel. Scituate 


341 


Rienzi 


108 


sch. 


1836 


Waterman & Bates, Fox Hill 


138 


Rising Sun 
Rival 


80 


sch. 


1806 


Turner & Thomas, Miscel. Hanover 


127 


60 


sch. 


1829 


Tilden, Block-honse 


271 


Rival 




sch. 




Briggs, Brick-kiln 


184 


Roanok6 





sch. 


183- 


Brooks & Tilden 


279 


Roanoke 


99 


sch. 


1842 


Turner, Bates and others, Lower Yard 


112 


Robert 




ship 


1789 


Miscel., Hanover 


129 


Robert Raikes 


81 


sch. 


1849 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


142 


Rodolph Frederick 
Roller 


271 
293 


ship 
ship 


1799 
1804 


Barstow, "Two Oaks" 
Kingman, Miscel. Hanover 


100 
126 


Romeo 


312 


ship 


1805 


Kingman, Miscel. Hanover 


126 


Romulus 


204 


ship 


1797 


Smith Yard 


89 


Rosa Baker 


109 


her. brig 


18G7 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


145 


Rose 


60 


brigantine 


1705 


Block-house 


260 


Rover 


79 


sch. 


179G 


Delano, Wanton 


223 


Rover 




sch. 


1800 


Vinal, Scituate Harbor 




Rover 


89 


sch. 


1801 


Torrey, Chittenden Yard 


250 


Rover 




sch. 




White's Ferry 


361 


Rowena 


69 


sch. 


1834 


Block-house 


271 


Roxanna 


73 


sch. 


1818 


Turner & Turner, Fox Hill 


134 


Rubicon 


67 


sch. 


1831 


Torrey, Block-house 


271 


Ruby 
Ruby 
Russell 


85 


sch. 


1789 


North River 


48 


28 


sch. 


1800 


Rogers Yard 


212 




bk. 


1804 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


Russian 


222 


brig 


1828 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


238 


Ruth 


30 


sip. 


1708 


Block-house 


261 


Ruthy 


39 


sch. 


1791 


Randall, Miscel. Pembroke 


83 



AND AT SCITUATE HARBOll. 



405 



Name. 


Ton- 
nage 


Rig. 


BVILT 


Town or Yard. 


1 

Pi 


Salem 


260 


bk. 


1854 


Miscel. Scituate 


244 


Salem Packet 


42 


jslp. 


1782 


Brick-kiln 


173 


Salinas 


162 


brig 


1841 


Barstow Lower Yard 


HI 


Salinas, aft. called "Warrea." 


150 


her. brig 


1863 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


144 


Sally 


35 


sch. 


1769 


North River 


48 


Sally 


25 


sch. 


1781 


North River 


48 


Sally 


58 


sch. 


1784 


Miscel., Hanover 


129 


Sally 


44 


sip. 


1786 


Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


272 


Sally 


54 


sch. 


1786 


Stutson, Wanton 


222 


Sally 


54 


sch. 


1786 


Vinal, Scituate Harbor 


368 


Sally 


32 


sch. 


1789 


Chittenden Yard 


246 


Sally 


— 


sip. 


1790 


Brick-kiln 


174 


Sally 


24 


sch. 


1796 


North River 


49 


Sally 


96 


sch. 


1796 


Rogers Yard 


206 


Sally 


54 


sch. 


1796 


Vinal, Scituate Harbor 


368 


Sally, aft. called "Nysted." 


83 


sch. 


1799 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Sally 


95 


sch. 


1802 


Barker, Chittenden Yard 


250 


Sally 


— 


sch. 


1802 


Hanover 




Sally 


149 


brig 


1802 


Briggs Yard 


310 


Sally Robbin 


58 


sch. 


1784 


Miscel., Hanover 


129 


Samos 


243 


brig 


1827 


Copeland & Co., Fox Hill 


136 


Samuel 


— 




1804 


North River 


51 


Samuel 


310 


ship 


ISIO 


Eells, Smith Yard 


94 


Samuel & Thomas 


190 


bk. 


1841 


Miscel., Scituate 


344 


Samuel Soper 





brig 


18— 


Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor 


389 


Sarah 


90 


ship 


1697 


Briggs Yard 


284 


Sarah 


310 


ship 


1795 


Brick-kiln 


174 


Sarah 


307 


ship 


1815 


Samson, No. River Bridge 


70 


Sarah 


63 


sch. 


1841 


Vinal, Scituate Harbor 


384 


Sarah 


165 


brig 


1850 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


142 


Sarah,aft,card*'NelIieFenwick" 


2^0 


bark 


18.54 


Scituate Harbor 


391 


Sarah & Betsey 


85 


sch. 


1819 


Barstow Lower Yard 


107 


Sarah & Isabella 


50 


brigantine 


1700 


Wanton & Barker, Wanton 


217 


Sarah Brooks 


76 


sch. 


1849 


Scituate Harbor 


386 


Sarah Jane 


67 


sch. 


1S51 


Merritt, Chittenden Yard 


257 


Sarah Wales 


99 


sch. 


1835 


Barstow Lower Yard 


110 


Sarah's Adventure 


40 


ketch 


1700 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Saratoga 


289 


bk. 


1835 


P'oster & Co., Wanton 


240 


Saturn 


107 


sch. 


1805 


Keene, White's Ferry 


252 


Saucy Jack 


90 


sch. 


1802 


Hatch, Block-house 


363 


Scituate 


86 


sch. 


1834 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


384 


Sea Boy 








Litchfield, Miscel. Scituate 


342 


Sea Drift 


99 


sch. 


18.52 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


142 


Sea Flower 


60 


brigantine 


1703 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Sea Flower 


30 


sip. 


1709 


Chittenden Yard 


244 


Sea Flower 


40 


sip. 


1714 


Chittenden Yard 


244 


Sea Flower 


46 


sch. 


1789 


Miscel., Scituate 


343 


Seamew 


199 


ship 


1833 


Barstow Lower Yard 


110 


Seamoss 





brig 


183 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


257 


Sears & J. Rogers 


31 


sch. 


1848 


Briggs, Scituate Harbor 


386 


Selah 


199 


bk. 


1848 


Turner, Otis & Cole, Scituate Harbor 


390 


Selma 


266 


ship 


1824 


Barstow Lower Yard 


106 


Senator 


193 


brig 


1840 


Briggs Yard 


322 


Seventh Son 


87 


sch. 


1819 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


254 


Short Staple 


172 


brig 


1802 


Cushing, Miscel. Hanover 


127 


Sinus 


55 


slpr 


1843 


Turner, Scituate Harbor 


388 


Sisters 


83 


brig 


1794 


Rogers Yard 


207 


Smyrna 





brig 


1825 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


236 


Smyrna 


162 


brig 


1825 


White's Ferry 


2.56 


Solon 


402 


ship 


1815 


Stockbridge, Miscel. Hanover 


128 


Somerset 





ship 




Brick-kiln 


168 


Soper 





sch. 


1852 


Scituate Harbor 


391 


Sophia 


67 


sch. 


1795 


Scituate Harbor 


368 


Sophia 


35 


sip. 


1811 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


181 


Sophronia 


83 


sch. 


1803 


Torrey, Chittenden Yard 


250 


Sophronia 


197 


bk. 


1841 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


196 


Souther 










Carver, Taylor 


281 


Souther 


198 


her. brig ) 


1S40 


Souther, Chittenden Yd 


257 


South Shore 


88 


sch. 


18.50 


Otis, Scituate Harbor 


391 


Spanker 


103 


sch. 


1801 


Turner, Miscel. Pembroke 


82 



406 



A LIST OF VESSELS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER 



Name. 



Spartacus 

Specie 

Speedwell 

Speedwell 

Speedwell 

Speedwell 

Speedwell 

Speedwell 

Speedwell 

Speedwell 

Speedwell Friend 

Spermo 

Sphynx 

Spright (or "Sprite") 

S. R. Soper 

Star 

Star 

States 

St. Paul 

Success 

Success 

Sutrolk 

Sukey 

Sun 

Superb 

Surprise 

Susan 

Susan 

Susan 

Susan Baker 

Susan Jane 

Susan N. Smith 

Suwarrow 

Swallow 



lately called 
["Blessing" 



Swallow, 

Swallow 

Swallow 

Swallow 

Swan 

Swan 

Swann 

Swann 



Taglioni 

Talisman 

Tama 

Tarquin 

Taunton Merchant 

Tenedos 

Thankful 

Thomas 

Thomas 

Thomas 

Three Friends 

Three Friends 

Three Friends 

Three Friends 

Three Sisters 

Three Sisters 

Tiberias 

Token 

Tom Corwin 

Topaz 

Trader 

Trent 

Triton 

Triton 

Tropic 

Trval 

Tryal 



Ton- 


Rio. 


3UILT 


nage. 






92 


sch. 


1846 


72 


,ch. 


1827 


25 


;lp. 


1695 


60 


ship 


1695 


100 


>hip 


1696 


40 


wigantine 


1698 


50 


jrigantine 


1699 


15 


iCh. 


177 


— 


5]p. 


177 


57 


5ch. 


1787 


20 


origantine 


1703 


296 


ship 


1820 


43 


sch. 


1784 


200 


sch. 


1856 


130 


sch. 


1832 





brig 


1838 


23 


sch. 


1839 


290 


ship 


1818 


94 


3ch. 


1845 


60 


^rigantine 


1710 


30 


?ch. 


1783 


314 


ship 


1816 


49 


sch. 


1785 


200 


brig 




395 


ship 


1794 


70 


sch. 


18:)2 


311 


ship 


1805 


36 


sip. 


1831 







1834 


99 


sch. 


1839 


274 


bk. 


1841 


150 


sch. 


1864 


303 


ship 


1807 


35 


hrigantine 


1678 


20 


hrigantine 


1698 


30 


brigantine 


1705 


68 


sch. 


1786 


75 


sch. 


1789 


20 


Sl.3. 


1708 


129 


sch. 


1836 


45 


brigantine 


1699 


60 


brigantine 


1701 


34 


sip. 


1848 


73 


sch. 


1845 




ship 


177 


101 


sch. 


1836 


70 


ship 


1711 


245 


brig 


1827 


129 


sch. 


1797 





bk. 


1698 


70 


ship 


1713 
1809 
1692 


16 


sip. 


32 


sch. 


1796 


98 


sch. 


1797 


74 


sch. 


1801 


90 


brigantine 


1705 





sch. 


1820 


298 


bk. 


1833 


141 


brig 


1831 


250 


bkf 


1847 


385 


ship 


1805 


— 


sip. 




249 


brig 


1822 


170 


brigantine 


1800 


75 


sch. 


1825 


150 


brig 


1804 


60 


ship 


1698 


20 


sip. 


1701 



Town or Yard. 



Briggs & Turner, Scituate Harbor 

North River 

Miscel., Scituate 

Miscel., Scituate 

Miscel.. Scituate 

Briggs Yard 

Scituate Harbor 

No.- River Pilots and Brick-kiln 

Thomas, Brick-kiln 

Bates, Miscel. Hanover 

Scituate Harbor 

Barstow Lower Yard 

Block-house 

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 

Scituate Harbor 

Briggs Yard 

Bnggs, Scituate Harbor 

Barstow's Lower Yard 

Waterman, Fox Hill 

Block-house 

North River 

Palmer, Brick-kiln 

Block-house 

Bnggs, Brick-kiln 

Keene, White's Ferry 

Cudworth. Chittenden Yard 

Rogers, Miscel. Hanover 

Hall's, White's Ferry 

Briggs, Brick-kiln 

Cudworth, Chittenden Yard 

Briggs Yard 

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 

[Briggs, Brick-kiln 

j Briggs Yard 

^ Briggs Yard 

I Miscel. Scituate 

[Silvester, No. River Bridge 

I Miscel. Scituate 

; Block-house 

j Briggs, Brick-kiln 

Scituate Harbor 

Scituate Harbor 

Briggs, Scituate Harbor 
Scituate Harbor 
Brick-kiln 

Cudworth, Chittenden Yard 
White's Ferry 

Briggs & Turner, Brick-kiln 
Torrey, Chittenden Yai-d 
Scituate 
Block-house 
North River 
Briggs Yard 
Rogers Yard 
Briggs Yard 
Hatch, Brooks, Tilden cSc Taylor 
Scituate Harbor 

Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 
Barstow Lower Yard 
Foster & Co.. Wanton 
Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 
Delano, Wanton 
Rogers Yard 
Barstow Lower Yard 
jBrick-kiln 

i Hall's, White's Ferry 
Brooks. Scituate Harbor 
[Miscel. Scituate 
Chittenden Yard 



AND AT SCITUATE HARBOR. 



407 



Name. 


Ton- 
nage 


Rig. 


BVILT 


ToAVN OR Yard. 


(2 


Tryall 


60 


brig 


17U 


Briggs Yard 


285 


Turk 


197 


bk. 


1841 


Turner, Scituate Harbor 


388 


Two Brothers 


60 


ship 


1700 


Chittenden Yard 


244 


Two Friends 


89 


sch. 


1802 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


174 


Tyger 


60 


brigantine 


1706 


Miscel. Scituate 


339 


Uncle Sam 


118 


sch. 


1834 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


360 


Union 


15 


sip. 


177- 


No. River Pilots 


54 


Union 


— 


ship 


1790 


North River 


48 


Union 


42 


sch. 


1792 


Brick-kiln 


174 


Union 


86 


sch. 


1801 


Kingman Miscel. Hanover 


126 


Union 





sch. 


1803 


Marshfield 




Union 


231 


ship-- 


1807 


Smith Yard 


93 


Union 


48 


sch. 


1816 


Merritt, Miscel. Scituate 


310 


Union 


199 


bk. 


1847 


Turner, Otis & Cole, Scituate Harbor 


390 


Unity 


40 


sip. 


1097 


Miscel. Scituate 


337 


Unity 


30 


sip. 


1699 


Wanton 


217 


Unity 


60 


brigantine 


1700 


Scituate Harbor 


367 


Unity 


65 


brigantine 


1706 


Briggs Yard 


285 


Verges 


lol 


brig 


1831 


Turner, Brick-kiln 


192 


Verona 


238 


bk. 


1836 


Briggs Yard 


321 


Vesta 


91 


sch. 


1821 


Torrey, Block-house 


270 


Victory, form. cal'd "Rebecca." 


90 


ship 


1705 


Briggs Yard 


285 


Vintage 


199 


brig 


1837 


Waterman, Fox Hill 


139 


Virginia 


62 


sch. 


1824 


Briggs & Turner, Brick kiln 


191 


Vulture 


— 




1817 


North River 


51 


Warren, form, caned "SaUnas" 


150 


her. brig 


1863 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


144 


"Warsaw 


331 


ship 


1831 


Barstow Lower Yard 


108 


Warsaw 








Foster, Wanton 


230 


Washington 





ship 


1791 


Miscel. Scituate also North River 48 


343 


Washington 


107 


sch. 


1800 


Brick-kiln 


174 


Washington 


100 


sch. 


1800 


Briggs, Brick-kiln (continued) 


181 


AVashington 


87 


sch. 


1801 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Washington 


70 


sch. 


1803 


Samson, Brick-kiln 


182 


Washington 


108 


sch. 


1805 


Kent, Scituate Harbor 


380 


Washington 


309 


ship 


1819 


Barstow Lower Yard 


104 


Water Witch 


167 


brig 


1831 


Clapp & Foster, \Vanton 


239 


"W^ave 


124 


brig 


1820 


Briggs Yard 


314 


Wave 


197 


bk.° 


1841 


Waterman, Fox Hill 


139 


Waverly 


232 


brig 


18'^7 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


356 


Welcome Return 


77 


sch. 


1818 


Foster & Co., Wanton 


234 


Welcome Return 








Samson, No. River Bridge 


71 


Wellfleet 


25 


sip. 


1784 


North River 


48 


Wildes P. Walker 


188 


brig 


1839 


Barstow Lower Yard 


111 


William 


135 


brigantine 


1784 


Brooks, Tilden & Taylor 


272 


William 


56 


sch. 


1784 


North River 


48 


William 


71 


sch. 


1803 


Samson Brick-kiln (continued) 


182 


William 


49 


sch. 


1817 


Block-house 


270 


William 




sch. 


1823 


Souther & Cudworth, Chittenden Yd 


255 


William & Henry 


185 


brig 


1823 


Block-house 


270 


William & Mary 


40 


sip. 


1693 


Briggs Yard 


284 


William & Thomas 


72 


brigantine 


1703 


Miscel. Scituate 


338 


William Allen 


99 


sch. 


1836 


Scituate Harbor 


387 


William Clift 




brigantine 


1749 


Stutson, Wanton 


220 


William Henry 


110 


sch. 


1837 


Hall's, White's Ferry 


361 


William M. Rogers 
William Martin 


162 


brig 


1838 


Barstow Lower Yard 


110 


130 


sch. 


18.i4 


Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


142 


William Penn 





ship 


1810 


Miscel. Scituate 


343 


William Penn 


158 


brig 


1837 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


196 


William Pitt 


174 


brig 


1839 


Briggs, Brick-kiln 


196 


William Soper 
William Tell 




sch. 




Turner, Scituate Harbor 


388 


258 


ship 


1805 


Torrey, Chittenden Yard 


250 


William Wilson 


121 


sch. 


1835 


Barstow Lower Yard 


110 


Wolga 


73 


sch. 


1828 


Turner, Palmer & Magoun, Xo. Itiver Bridge 


74 


Xenophon 


299 


ship 


1804 


Magoun, Brick-kiln 


183 


Young Turk 


300 


bk. 


1853 


Turner and others, Scituate Harbor 


391 


Zenas Coffin,*"''?'"''"^' "«"•<"' 

Zion ["Rising sun.' 


338 
199 


ship 
bk. 


1828 
1848 


Barstow Lower Yard 

Barstow & Waterman, Fox Hill 


107 
141 


Zulette 


198 


bk. 


1843 


Turner, Scituate Harbor 


388 



INDEX. 



Absalom's Rock, , 


27 


Adams, Eliah, 


. . 28s 


Isaac, . 


. . 156 


James, . 


332 


John, 


151 


John Quincy, 


198 


Samuel, 


158 


Seth. . 


is6 


Alden, Briggs, 


261 


Ichabod, 


135 


Isaiah, . 13 


3, 134. 135, 192 


John, . . 


88 


Alford, Benjamin, 


218, 284,337 


Alger, Cyrus, 


• 116, IS4 


Allen, Fred, . 


249 


George, 


. Ill, 119 


George A., 


120 


George H., . 


67 


George M., 102, 13 


9, 140, 141, 192, 


196, 279, 384, 385 


,386 


George N., . 


279 


Henry, . 


180 


Ichabod, 


74 


Isaiah, 


74 


Jeremiah, 


• 284, 337 


Matthew, 


100 


Stephen M., . 


161 


William P., . 


120, 140, 386 


Allison, James, . 


338 


Allyne, Abel, 


186 


Alwyn, Thomas, 


331 


Ames, Azel, 


361 


Elijah, 


. 136, 360 


Jacob, 


55 


James, . 


55 


Tilden, . 


264 


W. B., . 


125 


Anderson, Alexander, 


322, 384, 389 


Joseph, 


335 


Arnold, Ed., 


281 


Frank, . 


75 


Henry H., . 


375 


Samuel, 


343 


Assinippi stream, 


29 


Athearn, George F., 


222 


Atkins, Elisha, 


140 


Aynsworth, James, 


261 


Babb, Thomas, . 


148 


Bacon, A. J., 


69. 73 


Bailey, Abner, 


380 


Benjamin, 


364 


Caleb, . 


340 


Charles T., . 


266 


George W., . 


383 


Herbert B., . 


383 


Job F., . . 


383 


John, . 


. 84, 103 


Oliver, . 


155 


Waterman, 


322 


Bailey's Brook, . 


26 


Baily, Caleb, 


13s 





PAGE 


Baker, 




Alpheus S , . 


375 


Andrew H., . 


391 


A., ... 


144 


Barker, . 


191 


Calvin, . 


191 


Calvin L., . 


191 


D.Webster, . 


191 


Ezra H., 


"o, 377 


Howes, . 


no, 196 


Joseph F., 


375 


Joshua, . . 
Kenelm, 


145 


280 


M.A., . 


146 


Nathaniel, 


368 


Samuel, 


352 


Scollay, 


273 


Thomas, . . 15 


8,273.337 


Waller S., . 


191 


William J., . 


221 


& Hardy, 


190 


& Morrill, . 


119 


Bald Hills, . 


220 


Baldwin, Frank F., 


296 


Roger N., 


296 


Thomas, 


374 


William H., . 


296 


Banks, Harry W., 


190 


Joseph F., 


190 


N. P., . 


73. 190 


Bangs, Elkan.ih, . 


322 


Bant, Gilbert, 


368 


Bardin, Abraham, 


8 


Isaac, . 


8 


Thomas, 


8,67 


Bardwin, Isaac, . 


8 


Thomas, 


8.9 


Barel, Joe, . 


237 


Barker, Caleb, . 


23 


Elisha 


164, 250 


Francis, 


2- 3 


Ira, 


248, 313 


Isaac 


3. 4 


Isaac B., 


9' 


Jacob 


225, 226 


John, 


45 


Joseph 


109 


Joshua, . . . • 


2, 23 


Josiah, . , 

Robert, . 2, 23, 174, 21- 


2, 219 


, 218, 219 


Samuel, . . . . 


2, 19 


Thomas, 


19 


Wharton, 


225 


William, 


246 


& Athearn, 


235 


Barker's River, . 


6 


Barnes, Benjamin, 


195 


David 


328 


James 


284, 3^7 


Thomas, 


367 


Barnard, Edward, 


228 


E. &Co., 


281 



Barnard, R. A., 
Barren, J. . 
Barrer, Joshua, 
Barry, James, 
Barstow, Albert, 
Albert H., 
Alton M., 
Andrew, 
Benjamin, 
Calvin, . 
C. &J., 
Edward, 
Edwin, . 
Edwin & Son 
Elias, 



PAGE 

384 
298 
3 
218 
no, 296 
296 
296 
100, in 
65, 97, 99, 106 

97 

108 

99, 105, 106 

24, 100, 144 

145 

97 



Elijah, 34, 75, 97, 98, 99, lOD, 102, 
104, 106, 107, 108, 109, no. III, 
119, 120, 125, 140, 143, 295, 321, 
,356,359 



Elmer W., , 


296 


E. W., . 


144 


George B., 


157 


Gideon, . 


. 65,97 


Henry, . 


no 


Henry B., . 


29s 


Henry H., . 


. 113, 114 


James, . 


64, 65, 97 


John, . 99 


105, 106, 109, 381 


John B., 7, 85, 


98, 99, 100, lOI, 


102, 103, 104, 


106, 107, 138, 210 


Joseph, . 


15, 21 


Joshua, 


.15,97.98 


Nath., . 


99 


Nathan H., . 


97 


Nathaniel, 


100, 105, 106, 228 


Robert, . 


99 


R. L., . 


344 


Samuel, 


21 


Thomas, 65, 97 


98, 99, 100, 102, 


108, 157 




William, 


28, 65, 97 


Wilson, . 


97 


& Eells, 


. . 84 


& Russell, . 


23 


& Waterman, 


. 141, 144, 145, 


Barstow's Bridge, 


28 


Barstow's Brook, 


6 


Barstow's Forge, . 


IS 


Bartlett, George, . 


113 


John E., 


13s 


Seth E., 


13s 


W. S., . 


. . 387 


Barton, Benjamin, 


30 


]ames, . 


284 


Bass, Benjamin, 72, 90, 92, 219, 354 


Elisha, . 


85, 92, no. 


Philip, . 


337 


Bassett, Caleb, . 


191 


Frederick B., 


. . 156 


John, 


191 


John B., 


. . 156 


Julius W., . 


. . 156 



INDEX. 



409 



Bates, Caleb, 

Calvin, . 

Clement, 

Edgar, . 

Enos, 

Henry S., 

Hira, . 

Hira W., 

James, . 

John, 

John B., 

Joseph, . 

Joseph J., 

Joseph L., 

Joseph S., 99, 112, 
138, 359 

J., • • • 

Loring, . 

Reuben C, . 

Seth, . 

Simeon, 

Solomon, 

Thomas M., . 

& Holmes, 
"Battles, Jared, 
Beal, Charles, 

David, . 

Edwin 

Ensign O., 

George . 

John, 74, 134, 137, 
271, 320, 340, 382 
Beale, J. F., 
Bearse, Owen, 
Bearstow, Jacob, . 
Beaver Dam Brook, 
Belcher, Andrew, 217, 

285, 337. 339 

John, 

Jonathan, 
Belknap, Jeremy, 
Bell, Philip W., . 
Bell House Neck, 
Belle House, 
Belle House Neck, 
Benjamin Curtis Mill, 
Benner & Deake, 
Bennett, Elisha, . 

Richard, 
Bernard, Francis, 
Berry, Abraham H., 

James, . 

Richard, 

Theodore, 
Berwind, Edward J., 
Bicker, Martin & Son, 
£igelow, Albert F., 

Albert S., 

Arthur G., 

Cleveland, 

Henry B., 

Horatio, 

Horatio R., . 

Joseph S., 

William DeF., 
Billings. Paul, 
Bisby, Elisha, 
Black Bill, . 
Blair, William 
Blake, George F., 

John, 

Joseph, . 

Joshua, . 
Blish, Abraham, . 
Blount, Frederick M., 

Harry D., . 
Boardman, William, 

& Sanderson, 
Boggs, F. M., 
Bonny, Ebenezer, 
iBonney, James, . 

Nath., . 

Noah, 
iBooth, Abraham, . 



192, 



PAGE 

138 

24 

124 

249 

125 

135. 138 

15 

IS 

265 

195. 313 

108, 138 

2, 3 

136 

75 

135. 137. 

197 

387 

384 

124, 125 

310, 340 

124, 309 

129 

24 

340 

254 

20 

254 
39' 
265 
197. 270, 



Booth, Benjamin, . . 21 

Borham, William H., 92 

Borland, John, . . . 366 

Boston Marine Mining Company, 112 



383. 3S4. 385 
82 

390 

272 

25 

244, 261, 284, 



3" 
261, 283 
374 
i'3 
285 
286 
38, 2S6 



3^1 
, 289 
157 
262 
284 
46 
322 
249 
208 



64 



86 

66, 69, 86 

86 

86 

86 

134 

136 

258, 259 

261 

' 249 

350 

186 

3'7 

337 

329 

3'9 

48 

39' 

359 

273 

197 

360 

22 

164 



Bott, John 

Bourn, Shearjashub, 

Bourne, Jedediah, 

Jonathan, 

John, 

Proctor, 

Ronse, . 

Russell, . 
Bouve, John, 
Bowdon, John, 
Bowers, Henry, . 
Bowker, Bowen, , 

Isaac B., 
Bowley, J. G., . 

J. E. &G., . 
Boyd, J., . 
Boyden, Uriah A., 
Brackett, Cephas, 

Fred, . 

Lemuel, 

Samuel P., 
Bradlord, James, . 

William, 
Bradley, Francis E., 

J. Pay son, 
Bramhall, Benjamin, 

Joshua, . , 
Branch Creek, 
Brayton, Isaac, . 
Brenton, Jahted, . 
Brewer, C. & Co., 

Page, 
Brewster, Jonathan, 

Nathan, . 

Wrestling, 
Bridge, Edmund, 
Briggs, Alden, 61, 74, 82, 129, 174, 176 
178, 180, 181, 183, 164, 185, 1S7, 
i8^, 193, 195, 196, 352, 360 

Alexander P., . . 180 



179 

• 217,364 
152 

143. 145. 237 
352 

359. 360, 361 
224 

• 113. 114 
197 
338 

. 279, 321 



Alfred, 
Arthur N., 
A.,. 

Barnabas, 
Barnabas W., 
Benjamin, 



297 
296 



313, 384, 386, 387 

320, 382, 383, 384 

• 247, 382 

Charles, 179, i8t, 292, 293, 297, 

311, 313, 314.323 
Charles C, 157, 294, 319, 321, 322, 

323 
Charles C. & William T. 322 

Charles E., . . . 183 

Charles O., . . . 297 

"Clark," ... 382 

Cornelius, 178, 290, 291, 292, 293 
Gushing O., 74, 132, 136, 157, 193, 

194, 270, 293, 294, 312, 313, 314, 

316, 317, 319, 320. 321, 323. 385. 

389 
Gushing O. & Sons, . 322 

C. O.&H., . 313,316,319,389 
Daniel, 178, 180, 185, 186, 187, 



David, . 
Edward, 
Edward T., 
Edwin, . 
Edwin R., 
Elijah 



172, 313. 386 
179 
179 
. 269, 324 
295 
293 



Elisha, 158, 176, 178, 179, 180, 181 , 
183, 186, 1S8, 193, 194, 222, 238, 
292, 312 
Enos, 178, 179, 185, 189, 293 
Everett L., . . . 296 

E. & H. O., 132, 197, 258, 312, 324, 



Frank H., 
Frank S., 
Franklin, 
George, . 



Briggs, George C., 
George H., . 
Harlem P., . 
Harrison O., 157, 269, 

324. 325. 375 
Henry, 74, 109, 132, 194 
295. 312,313. 3'4. 3'5 
319, 320, 321, 389 
Henry J., 
Henry P., 
Henry T., 
Horace C, 

James, 124, 178, 286, 289 
292, 293, 297, 298, 309 
382 
James B., 

James E., . . 157 
James S., 319, 382, 383 
Job, 
John. 289, 290, 291, 292 

310 
John R., 

Joseph, . . .29 
Joseph O., 
Joshua, 
J. S., . 
Lemuel, 

Lloyd, . 157, 295, 31: 
Luther, 74, 17S, 179, 184 
igr, 192, 194, 195, 196 
199, 388, 389 
L. Vernon, 
Nathaniel, 
Otis, 
Robert, . 
Samuel, . 
Seth, 178, 179, I 

189. 292, 309 
Shadrach, 
Silas M., 
Sylvester, 313, 383, 384 

387 
Thomas, 178, 180, 181 

293.310. 3". 312 
Thomas B., 293,294, 295 



31 



313, 31 



193. 194. 
(9, 290, 291 



, 292, 293 



293. 324 
29^ 

137. 295 
321 



Thomas W., 

" Tom " 

Walter, 178. 
287, 288, 2 

Warren, 

^Villiam, ] 

William H., 

WilliamT.,157, 158, 185 
3I9- 321. 322, 323 
Briggs Harbor, 
Brigham, Henry H., 

Joseph, . 
Brigs, Mathyas, . 
Broad Creek, 
Brookhall Field. . 
Brooks, Elijah, 238, 264, 265 

Frank, , 

Franklin, 

John, 

Joseph, , t 

Nathaniel, 

Noah, 269, 324, 374, 38 

Noah W. 

Taylor, . . 

William, 

William G., . 

Williams B., 
& Tilden, 
Brooks &; Tilden Yard, 
Broughton, Daniel, 
Brown, Benjamin, 384, 38 

George L., . 

Henry, . 

James, . . . 

John, . . 

Samuel, 



27S 



278 



PAGE 

179 

180, 296 

296 

282, 295, 

270, 293, 
316,317, 

296 
179 
297 
297 
290, 291, 
310, 312, 

293 

. 294, 324 

384, 386 

292 

293. 309. 

297 

I 292, 382 

383 

189, 292 

385 

293 

325. 377 

189, 190, 

197,198, 

295. 32s 

179 

, 322, 383 

179, 180 
, 179, 292 
185, 186, 

, 384, 386 

180 

385. 386, 



297 

193. 313 

255, 286, 

292, 382 

255 
313.386 

294 
268,294, 

287 
20 

366 

332 

44 

285 

2;8, 279 

341 

278 

26, 382 

27 

26 

381 

382, 390 

382 

381 

341. 381 

104 

382 

279, 389 

272 

389 
385, 391 
156 
155 
263 
277 
197 



410 






INDEX. 








PAGE 






PAGE 


Brown, S 




2q8 


Chittenden Israel, 




245 


Vernon H., . 


136 


248 


Nathaniel, 




245 


Bruce, James, 




165 


Thomas, 




245 


Bryant, Dion, 




179 


Chitty, Thomas, . 




367 


Ira, . . 237, 25c 


. 3''9 


380 


Christie, Michael, 




7 


John, . .33.34,3. 


, 159 


237 


Chubbuck, Anthony, . 




313, 389 


Joseph, . 




277 


Francis G., . 




192 


Bryant's Bridge, . 




35 


Church, Caleb, . . . 




131 


Buck, Isaac, . . i-i 


,286 


292 


Cornelius, 




252 


John, . . 




337 


David, . . 57, 82 


,83, 


181. 350 


Bucklyn, David, . 




244 


Joseph, . 




131 


Budd, John, 




108 


Lemuel, 




174 


Buffington, James, 




293 


Nathaniel 




13' 


Bulfinch, C 




298 


Samuel H., . 




30, 119 


Bulfinch's Harbor, 




307 


Samuel S., . 




119 


Bulkley, Charles, 

Charles Edward, 




190 


Thomas, 




334 




190 


Timothy, 




237, 250 


Rumpas' Bridge, . 




35 


& Haskins, . 




119 


Bunker, George, . 




343 


Church's 1 nil,. . 




31 


James, . 




105 


Church's Hill Muster Grounds, 73 


Paul 




234 


Clafflin, Warren, . 




381 


Thomas, 




169 


Clapp, Albert, 




321, 388 


Burden, Isaac, 




8 


Alfred, . 




74. 271 


Thomas, 




8 


Chandler, . 74, 


313. 


386, 388 


Burgess, Ebenezer, 




127 


Elton B., 




204 


"Freeman, 




127 


Eugene H., . 




10, ir 


Burleigh, John, . 




179 


Frank A., 




67 


Burley John, 




179 


Fred. W., 




10, 11 


Burns, William, . 




156 


George P., . 




13 


Burrell, James, . 




341 


Henry, . 74, 


271 


360, 388 


Burrill, Isaac, 




241 


John, 




30.41 


James S., 


241 


242 


John L., 




2C4 


Burrington, Thomas, . 




337 


Joseph, 227, 237, 238, 239, 240, 


Burroughs, Francis, . 




285 


291, 360 






Jeremiah, 
Thomas, 




286 


Nathaniel, 


240, 


270, 332 




192 


Perkins, 




263. 374 


Burrows, Thomas T., . 




196 


Rufus, . 




282 


Burton & Trumbull, . 




172 


Samuel, 




41. 343 


Butler, Peter, 




366 


Silas, 
Silvester, 




341 

340 


Cable, George, . 




337 


Thomas, . 157 


240 


332, 389 


Cahoon, Joseph, . 




370 


& Foster, 




239 


Calep, Robert, 




284 


Clapp Mills, 




41 


Calvert & Co., . 




388 


Clarance, John, . 




156 


Cape Hancock, . 




308 


Clark, Andrew, . 




297 


Carpenter, Prospect, . 




188 


Belcher, 




123 


Carswell, James W., . 




88 


Benjamin, 




123 


William, 




88 


B.. ... 




344 


Cartwright & Harrison, 


III 


. M4 


B.C., . 




iro, 239 


Harrison & Co., . 




144 


Charles, 




124 


Carver, Barslow,. 


• 351 


. 357 


Charles C, . 




124 


David, . 




277 


George E., 




297 


Hatch, . . 


. 3S1 


.357 


John, 
Nathaniel, 




123 


Isaac, . 




277 




123 


Israel, . . 280, 28 


I, 36c 


,361 


Thomas, 




H3, 285 


Joshua, . 




277 


William, . 90, 


"4 


140, 285 


Robert, . 




162 


Zebulon, 




124 


Stephen, 




379 


Clark Yard, 




123 


William, 




353 


Clarke, Francis, . 




339 


& Taylor 




212 


Jonas, . 




284 


Gary, William S., 




105 


William, 


28^ 


337. 366 


Chadwick, Ebenezer, . 




136 


Willliam H., 




179 


Chamberlain. Norman, 




72 


Claton, Richard, . 




217 


Chamberlain Plain, 




35 


Clay, Samuel, 




191 


Chambers, Charles, 




339 


Clayton, Richard, 




337 


Champion & Dickason, 




170 


Clermont & Kendrick, 




390 


Chandler, B. F., . 




179 


Clift, Joseph 




211, 277 


Sceva, . . 384, 3? 


5.389 


391 


Nathaniel 


204 


250, 270 


Simeon, . 




4 


William, 




12, 277 


Chapin, Joseph, . 




82 


Clothing Mill, 




41 


Chapman, Ralph, 




45 


Clutty, Thomas, . 




285 


Chapman's Landing, . 




6 


Cobb, Theodore, . 




22 


Chase, A. S., 




39' 


Cobb & Cushing, . 




22 


Coffin, . 




51 


Coburn & Ray, . 




389 


Isaac, 




105 


Cock, Edw., 




288, 289 


L., ... 




145 


Cockburn, Sir George . 




lOI 


N., ... 




391 


Cody, Jordan, 




14* 


0*en, 




49 


Coffin, Alexander, 




168 


Checkley. Samuel, 




72 


Barzillai 




lOI 


Cheny, Royal, 




180 


Charles, 




III 


Chillingworth, Thomas, 




38 


C. G. &H., . 




105, 107 


Chisholm, George H., 




387 


Daniel, . 




28i 


Chittenden, Gid, . 




246 


Ebenezer, 




'85 


Isaac, . 


244 


245 


Francis C, 




235 



Coffin Henry, 


T07, iir 


Hezekiah, . . 165 


, 166, 167 


James, .... 


285 


Nathan 


164 


Owen 


50 


Peter, .... 


284 


Shubael, 


167, it8 


Zenas, . loi, 103, 104 


, los, 107 


Zimri, .... 


50 


Cole. Andrew, 


384, 39° 


Br.iddock, . 


390 


Charles, 75, no, in 


, igo, 252 


Gridley, 


380 


Isaac, .... 


SO 


James, .... 


252 


Job 


273 


William, . . n: 


, 217, 368 


Coleman, David . 


384 


John, . . . 24^ 


, 261, 284 


Moses, .... 


139. 142 


Moses, R. . . . 


141 


Perry P, 


322, 384 


Collamer, Anthoi y. 


291 


Collamore, Anthony, . 


52, 196 


Charles, 


215 


Francis, . . 6, 173, 185 


Gilman, 


195 


Horace, 74, 179, 192, 193, 195, 196, 


H^t.t'^': . 


312 


Peter, . 


28s 


W. H. H., . 


164 


Collier, James, 203, 25 


h 340. 369 


PelegH., 


321 


William, . . 


291 


Colman, John, 


285, 337 


Moses R., 


139 


Comstock, Samuel B., 


231 


Coney, Jabez, 


325 


Conner, E. G., . 


388 


Converse, Benjamin, . 


35» 


Frank B.. 


38a 


Heroert B., . 


38* 


Cook, A 


271 


E. H 


391 


E. &E.K., . 


I4» 


Ichabod, 


386 


Josiah, . 
Luther D., . 


MS 


108 


Nathan, . 


179. 


Robert, 


386, 391 


&Co., . 


271 


Cooks, James, 


350 


Cooper, Thomas, . 


366 


Coorigan, T. J., . 


142 


Copeland, Ebenezer, . 


133 


Joseph, . 

William, 74, 90, 131,132 


133. 29» 
.133.134. 


135, 13*^. '37 




William & Co.. . 


136 


& Ford, . 


'38 


Ford & Pratt, 


132, 13s 


Copeland Tannery Brook, 


34 


Copper, Thomas, 


5» 


Cordwood Hill, . 


35 


Corlew, "Bill," . 


91,92 


Edward, 


92 


William. 


9i 


Cornell, J. B. & W. W., 


'55 


Cornish, Joshua, 


"7 


Corthell, John, 


258 


JohnH., 
Joseph, . 


22j 


227, 258 


Cotton, Joseph, . 


376 


Coushing, William, 


"r 


William & Co., . 


"7 


Cox, Isaac, 


9i 


Cricket Hole, 


33 


Crocker, G. O. & Co., 


J 06 


Joseph, 


321 


J. L 

Tilden, . 




Crockett, Smith D., . 


1I3 


Crommelin, G. C, 


34J 







INDEX. 






411 




PAGt 




PAOE 




PAGE 


Crocker, Nathaniel, 


86 


Damon, James, 


. 192, 279 


Dunham, S., 


• 222 


Tilden, 


66, 89, 359 


Joseph, . 


386 


Durshee, Frederick, . 


.56 
59, 188, 386 

153 

23 

19, 24 

90, 91, 92 

14 

31 

9 

72 


Crosby, Robert, . 


. . 284 


Nath 


3'3 


Drew, Joseph, . . i 


Cross, Amos W., 


. . 3i8 


N.J., . . . 


204 


William. . . 


Crotch, 


6 


Reuben, 


134 


Drinkwater Iron Works, 


Crozier, William, 


50 


Samuel, . 


313 


Drinkwater River, 


Cudworth, Benjamin, 


. 253 


William F., . 


265 


Dwelley, Benjamin, 


Elijah, 252, 253, 2 


34. 255. 256. 257 


& Waite, 


271 


James H., 


271, 360 




Danforth, Samuel, 


372 


Jedediah, 


Israel, 


388 


Darbey, Eleazer, . 


260 


Lemuel, 


James, . 


. 253, 290 


Darby, Eleazer, . 


338 


Melzar, , 


John, 


254 


^ J- • • • • 


298 


Nathan, 


92 

• 34, 223 

92, 98 


Joseph, . 


. 253, 254 


Davis, Aaron, 


89 


Richard, 


Laban, . 


254 


John, 


239 


Robert E., . 


Samuel C, 


• 214, 253 


Moses, . 


89 


Dyer, Charles, . 


12, 92 
217 

261 


William, 


281 


Dawcetl, James, . 


145 


Giles, . 


Culpepper, Francis, 


344 


Day, John, . 


355 


Gyles, . 


Culver, Albert, . 


26 


Deane, Charles F., 


. 328, 329 


Hervey, 


19 
12 


Cunningham, Timothy 


, . 261 


Charles W., . 


328 


Theodore C, 


& Cobb, 


112 


David H. A., 


328 






Currier, John J., . 


335 


George . 


179 


Efemes, Joseph, . 


313 


Curtis, Amiel, 


313 


Harry S., 


128 


Ears, Jasper M., . 


104 
28s 
93 


Asa, 


. 360, 361 


John, 


. 326, 328 


Eaton, Richard, . 


AsaF., . 


360 


John M., 


• 328, 329 


Eells, Barzilla . 


Benjamin, 


30 


Samuel, 226, 235, 326, 


373, 328, 


Bezal, . 


93, 98 


Consider, 


9 


329, 330, 




David, . 


137 


Edwin, . 


204 


Walter, 


326 


Edward, . 84, 93, 


94, 98, 102 


Eli, . . 2 


38,3^9,343.38- 


William . 


326 


John, 


98 


Elijah, . . 25 


2, 254, 263, 380 


William H. B., . 


328 


John P., 


q8, 00 


Elisha, . 


90, 92, 250 


William R., . 


326 


Joseph, . . 85, 87, 98, 100, 359 


Experience, . 


322 


Delano, Alfred O., 


227 


Nathaniel, . . 98, 216. 2:!6. 


George, 9, 10, 11, 1 


3.313,359.360, 


Amasa, 


■ 188, 30s 


Robert, 85, QO, 93, 


q8, 99, 128 


361 




Barak, . 


224 


Robert L., 85, 87, 97, 


98, 99, 129 


Harvey, 


271 


Benjamin, . 223, 22 


4, 221;, 228 


Samuel, 84, 94, 98, 99 


102, 103, 


James 0., 
John, 


269 


Benjamin F., 


226, 227 


250 




31 


Charles, . 


224 


Eldredge, James, . 


53 


Joshua, . 


313 


Edward, 


224 


Eldridge, T., 


lit 


J. 0., . . 


384 


Edward F., . 


227, 262 


Elliott, David, 


104 


Lemuel, 


9. 12 


Edward H., . . 22 


5, 227, 262 


Ellis, David, . . 13 


7, 230, 236 


Martin, . 


. 102, 132 


Elisha, 


81,313 


Joseph, . 


363 


Nathaniel, 


12 


Hezadiah, 


224 


Joshua, . 


. 193, 206 


Paul, . . 13 


2, 141, 197, 281 


Jesse, 


224 


Ellis Bridge, 


24 


Reuben, . 9, 90, 91 


, 129, 130, 250, 


Joseph, . . 


224 


Ellmes, Charles, . 263, 36 


9, 380, 386 


359 




Lemuel, 


224, 277 


Charles O., . 


42 


Samuel, . 


. 234, 292, 368 


Samuel, 


188, 224 


Rhodolphus, . 


• 41.363 


Shadrach B., 


384, 385. 386 


Silvanus, 


223, 224 


William, 


377 


Thomas, 


137 


Thomas, 


224 


Ells, Edward E., . 


297 


Thomas J., . 


389 


William, 85, 93, 224, 225 


, 226, 230 


Emerson, James L., . 
Emery, George W., 


375 


& Tilden, . 


36 


William E. . . . 


227, 262 


357 


Curtis Mills, 


30 


William H 


226 


Emmes, Samuel, . 


36+ 


Cushen, John, 


332 


Zebulon, 


224 


Emmons, Nathaniel H., 139 


, 314, 315. 


Gushing, Charles, 


180 


De La Noye, Philip, . 


224 


316, 317, 320, 321 




Christopher, . 


283 


Dennis, Ebenezer, 


284 


Enderby, Samuel,. 
Estcs, Henry, 


166, 167 


Elijah, . 


21, 32, 124 


Despard Lambart, 


2 


338 


Elnathan, 


237 


Mark, . . . . 


3 


Matthew, 


337 


George, . 


23 


Devin, John, . . 218 


. 244, 367 


Estis Matthew, , 


337 


George R., . 


48 


Devine, John, 


2t8 


Eustice, John, 


368 


Horatio, 


250 


Dewsbury, William, . 


284 


Evans, Jonathan, 


284, 367 


John, 7, 21, 128, 


140, 200, 286, 


Dillingham, Thomas, . 


45 


Robert, . 


338 


331 




Dingley, Jabez 


277 


Everett, Charles, . 


375 


John H., 


. 113,119 


John, . . .159 


, 277, 350 


Everton, William, 


217 


Joshua, . 


19 


Thomas, 


277 


Ewell, A 


237 


---Nathan, 


80, 251 


Doggett, Ebenezer, 


39 


Gershom, 


277 


Nathaniel, 16, 20, '. 


!I, 80, 98, 182, 


John, 
Nathaniel B., 


35, 39, 52 


Henry, . 


215 


331 




39 


Isaac 


206 


Nath 


313 


Noah, , . . . 


39 


Jedediah, 


129 


Nehemiah, 


80 


Samuel, . . 38, 39, 52 


, 244, 261 


Eyer, John, .... 


337 


Theodore, 


23 


Thomas, , 


38, 39, 52 


Eyre, John, . . , . 


366 


Theophilus, . 


179 


Donnalson, James, 


358 






Thomas, 


235 


Donnell, Reuben, 


7, 9, 104 


Fabens, B. E. & B. H. 


145 


William, 127, 158 


. 175. 215. 258 


Samuel, . . . . 


250 


Fairbanks & Adams, . 


143 


Gushing VI ill, 


30 


Thomas B., . 


104 


Farnham, Rufus, . 


66 


Cushing's Neck, . 


285 


Doubleday, John, 


. 365 


Farrington, George P., 


179 


Cushman, Elisha, 


320 


Doughty, James, • 


178, 291 


Faucon, E. A., 


182 


Cutler, Timothy, , 


220 


Doval, Jacob, 


338 


Faxon, Asaph A., 


389 






Dumer, Jeremy, . 


284 


Luther, 


22 


Dagan, Barney, .. 


12? 


Dummer, Jeremiah, 


337 


Fay, William, 


137 


Dalton, Thomas. . 


336 


Dunbar, Atwood L., . 


384 


William C 


239 


Daman, Benjamin, 


53, 54 


Jesse, 74, 192, 208, 270, 


271, 310 


Windsor, 


136 


Damon, Amos F., 


205, 206, 313 


315. 316. 317, 319.340, 


341, 343, 


Fenno, James, 


130 


Daniel E., . 


85 


358, 380, 383 




Fenton, Thomas, 


338 


Doane, , 


270 


J 


192 


William, 


338 


Franklin, 


. 386, 391 


Dunham, Jesse, . 


376 


Ferris, John, 


323 


H., . , . 


134 


Josiah, . . . 116 


376, 377 


Fessenden, Charles B., , 


321. 



412 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

337 
154 
4' 
351 
353 
277 

3'S 
66 
.56 
'56 
82 

72 

321, 322 

322 

322 

376 

3^9 
284 
284, 350 
235 
182 
171 

19 
277 
277 
186 
49. 51 
156 
132 
266 
132. 137 
156 
148 
83. 273 
156 
132 
134 
273 
132 
125 

Michael, 85, gj, 102, no, 131, 132, 
^33. '35. '37. '39, '4'. 219, 220, 
3'3. 321 



•■Fifield, Giles, 
•Finney, Ephraim, 
First Herring Brook, 
Fish, Adam, 
Frank, . 
Thomas, 
'Fisher, Francis, . 

John, 

Rollin B., . 

R. Thomas, . 
Fiske, J.D., 
Fitzgerald, Richard, 
Fletcher, Edward, 

Edwin, . . 

Henry W., . 
Flint, Truman, 
Flood, Renjamin, . 

Tames, . 

Joseph, . 
Fogg, Ebenezer T., 
Folger, Peter, 

Timothy, 
Foord, Joseph, 

Peleg, . 

Thomas, 
Forbes, John M., 

R. B., . 
Ford, Charles M., 

Chauncy D., . 

Coleman, 

David B., 

Edward, 

Elijah, . 

Eiisha, . 

Harry, . 

Howard I., 

James T., 

Jonathan, 

John W., 

Lauren, 



4.378 
378 
355 
125 

159 

148, 220 

132 

271 

229 

229, 230 

156 

156 

229, 258 

228 

210, 227 



Nathaniel, 
Nat, 

Samuel, . 
Simeon, . , 
Thomas, , 

William, . . 13 

William C, . 
Foss, A., 

Foster, Benjamin P. 
Charles, 
Charles A., . 
Charles B., . 
Daniel, . 
Edward, 
Eiisha, 74, 135, 192, 195, 

228, 229, 230, 231, 233, 234, 23s, 

236, 243, 2b8 
Eiisha & Sons, . . 230,231 
Freeman, . . . 106, 229 

George 228, 238 

Hatherly, . . . 228 

Henry 228 

John, 6, 148, 152, 217, 228, 251, 

261, 284, 313, 320, 337, 366, 368 
Joseph, .... 228 

Joshua T., . . 228, 239, 281 

Otis 228 

Philip 228, 230 

Robert, .... 153 

Samuel, 223, 228, 229, 239, 231, 

233. 234. 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 

250, 360 
Samuel & Co., . . 240 

Seth, 227, 228, 229, 230, 233, 234, 

235, 236,237, 238 
Seth & Co., . . . 233 

Seth & Samuel & Co., . 233, 235 
Thomas, . . . 228 

Timothy, . . . 228 

Turner, .... 238, 239 



Foster, Walter, 229, 230, 

2?S, 238, 253 

William T., . 
Fourth Cliff Ray, 
Fowie, William, 

William H., 

& Carroll, 
Franklin, Benjamin, 

Henry, . 
Frazier, A. A., 
Freeman, Edmund, 

Ezra, 

F. M., . 
French, Benjamin B., 

Charles F., . 

H. S.,&Co.. 
^.J.O., . . 
Fnend, John, 
Frizell, John, 260, 261, 284 

339. 367 
Frost & Gurney, . 
Fuller, C , . 

FredH., 

George, . 

Henry E., . 

Samuel, . 
Fiillerton, John, . 
Fulling Mill Creek, 

Gage, Thomas, 

Zenas, . 
Gardiner, George, 
Gardner, Henry, . 

Seth, . 

Thomas J., 

GarreK & Mayer, 
Garrett, Joseph, . 
Gallop, Benjamin, 
Gallup, W. H. V , 
George Moore's Bridge, 
George Moore's Swamp 
Gerrish. John, 
Gerry, Elbridge. . 
Gibbs, A., . 

R C 
Gill, Michael', '. 
Gillam, Cateret, . 
Gilson, William, . 
Goddard, Nathaniel, 

William, 
Goldthwait, Thomas, 
Gonzales, Bias, 
Gooch.John, 
Goodhue & Co., . 
Gooding, Henry, . 
Goodwin, Edward, 

Edward L., . 

& Vcntrin 
Gorham, John, . 

Stephen, 
Gorman, Stephen, 
Goss, Curtis L., . 
Gould, Barney, 

Charles J., 

Tilson, . 
Gravelly Beach, . 
Graves, C. B., 

S. B., . 
Gray, Anthony, . 

Robert, ... 48 

William, 
Gray's Harbor, 
Green, Bartholomew 

Nathaniel, 
Greene, James S., 

Joseph, 

Tobias, 
Greenish, J., 
Greenough, David, 
Greenwood, Samuel, 
Gunderway, Jerry, 
Gurney, James, . 

Fred J., 



PAGE 
233. 234, 

239 
38 
321 
321 
144 
195 
218 
390 
38' 
143 
387 
155 
'55 
130 
85, 123 
379 
28s, 338, 



134 
67 

263 
67 

285 

353 
34 

77 
207 
166 
339 
, 263, 283 
226 

30 

107 

292 

,2-8,338 

113, 114 

41 

41, 259 

284 

104 

no 

182 

261 

244 

364 

100, lOI 

338 

372 

300 

207 

344 

'3 

281 

376 

154 

4 

184, 212 

212 

376 

123 

154 

24 

46 

no, 136 
143. 144 

383 
299. 307 
104, 127 

307 

2?4 

284 
266 
266 

338 

'43 
'93 
284, 337 
59 
262 
262 









PAGE 


Gurny, John, 




S')? 


Hackett, William 






i83 


Hall, Abraham, 






203 


Adam, . 






355 


ISradford, 






374 


Calvin, . 






356 


Charles B., 






375 


Charles H., 






375 


Chester, 






374 


Danforth, 






352 


Daniel, . 




236, 255, 270 


Edward K., 




, 375 


Erne.st, 




375 


Francis, 






356 


Frank I., 






375 


Harvey, 






269, 313 


Hervey, 






356 


ilubert. 






374 


Isaac, 






137 


Isaac R., 






356 


Ivory, . 






374 


Ivory B., 






374 


James, . 






360 


Jeremiah, 






179 


Jesse, 






355 


Job, . 






91,92 


John, 






356 


Joseph, . 
Lemuel, 






355. 356 






356 


Levi, 






355 


Luke, 126, 197 


. '98 


. 256, 355. 356, 


, 357, 358, 359. 360 


,361 


Luther, . 




356 


Martin, . 






356 


Matthew, 






74 


Noah B., 






375 


Peleg, . 






356 


Robert, 






281 


Samuel, 55, 60 


, 132 


, 197, 355. 356, 


^,357. 358 






Thomas, 




355 


Walters., . 




357 


Walton, . 




275 


William, 355, 


356, 


358, 359. 360, 


,„3^' „ 









ny 



O, II 



William B. 

& Billings, 
Hallett, George, 
Halsey, John, 
Hamblin, Nathaniel, 
Hammond, Archelus 

Morris, . 
Hancock, John, . 
Handerson, Frederick 
Hanes, John, 
Hanmer, John, 
Hanover Forge Compa 
Hanover Temperance Society 
Harding, David, 

Henry C, 
Hardy, Alpheus, 

& Baker, 
Harlow. Eleazer, 
Harradine, John, 
Harrmgton, Jubal 
Harris, Abraham, 

B. W. . 

David 

Timo., . 
Hartt, Joseph, 

Joseph T., 

Samuel, . 
Harvey, George. 
Haskins, Edward H. 

Isaac, 

Lemuel,. 

William, 

William C, 
Hassey, Jacob, 
Haste, Henry, 
Hatch, Amos, 

Anthony E., 

Anson, . 

Asa L., . 



374 

341 

3'7. 366 

217, 2l8 

III 

167 

338 

'58 

53 

211 

21 

'7 

91 

264 

264 

196, 388 

i<,6, 390 

148, 149 

284 

82 

380 

160 

, 103 

338 

226 

226 

226, 331 

361 

228 

119, 228 

250 

'37 

"9 

372 

"3 

247, 250 

203 

83. 258 

386 



INDKX. 



418 



Hatch, Hailcy, ... 23 

Benjamin, 53, 203, 272, 273, 352, 
359. 360 



Charles, 


272, 


273 


c, . 




298 


Daniel, . 




263 


P^mmons, 




360 


Ezra, . 




360 


Ichabod, 


61, 


203 


Isaac. . . . 5. ' 
Israel, . . .13' 


>. T76. 


183 


'. "59. 


203 


Jabez, . . 356, 35' 


h 360, 


36- 


James, . 




21 


Jeremiah, . z 


.283, 


353 


lohn. 




224 


L. B 




22 


Mark, . 




5'i 


" Miller I'.cri," 




20 •( 


Prince, . 


zo'J, 


273 


Samuel, 


58, 


322 


Seth. . 


174. 


273 


Thomas M., . 




389 


Turner, 




37 


Walter, ... 2 


I, 283, 


353 


Warren, 




237 


William. 


283 


290 


Hathaway, Benjamin A., 




278 


Ifathcrly, Timotliy, . 2, 


25,40 


287 


Hay, Alexander, . 




1 06 


Hayden, Kli, 




J 88 


Klisha, . 




281 


& Cudworth, 




269 


Ilayward, Klijah, 


125. 


126 


Hazard, Thomas, 


102 


225 


Hedge, Barnabas, 




380 


Henchman, Nathaniel, 




337 


Hender, Jonathan, 




2l8 


Henderson, Jolin, 
Henry, Sank.rd, . 
Hensfiaw, John, . 




260 




321 




330 


Herring Kiver, 




6 


Hersey, David, 


8. 99 


Ebcd, . 




322 


Hewes, John, 
Hcwit, Joseph, 




283 




277 


Heynian, Samuel, 




336 


Tfichens, Benjamin, 




104 


J licks, r>anicl. 




3'''3 


& Bell, . 




3^-8 


Hilaiid, Samuel, . 




340 


Hilborn, Charles J., . 


"3 


114 


Hill, Abraham, . . i^ 


2, 158 


284 


Samuel, . 




3'fi 


Hillburn, Charles J. . 




113 


Hitchcock, Gad, . 


22 


106 


HeniyJ., 
Hobart, Aaron, . 




T06 
12 


A.M., . 




22 


Benjamin, 




20 


Elihu, . 


12, 19 


Israel, . 




283 


Peter, . 


234 


283 


Thoma?, 


16,21 


38, 


Hobby, lironsden. 




284 


John, 
William, 


217 


285 

2 (it 


Ifod^cs, Anthony, 




338 


Holbrvjk, John, . 




53 


Luther, . 


343 


368 


I Foldsworlh, Joshua, . 
ilolland, Abijah, 


. 288 


289 




3'-; 


John, 
Holfin^Ssworth, Richard, 


100 


1 01 




47 


ilolmes, Cyrus C, 




67 


lohn, . 148, 2'^2, 36' 

J'homag, • . 


0, zCi 


374 




3'3 


Homer, George . 




48 


Hooper, John !>., 




no 


Horton, John, . , 


2O0 


367 


House, Benjamin, 




54 


loseph. , 
Sarnuel, . 


25 
53 


103 
283 


Houston, Sarnuel, 




385 


Hovcy, Henry, . 


3'S 


3'7 



Howard. Charles, 

Kratik, . 

Nathan, 

Robert, . 
Howes, Klisha, 

John, 

Macy, . 

Osborne, 

I'rince, , 

Thomas, 
Howland, JariuR, 

T.uther . 

Thomas, , 

Hubbard, Joshua, 

'I'homas, , 

Huckins, James, . 
Hugh's Cross Brook, 
Humiihrcy, Benjamin, 

William . 
Hunt, A., . 

Albion W., . 

Joseph, . 83, 2<; 

I.,ewis, . 

Thomas, 

W. Webster, . 
Hunting, Samuel, 
Hussey, Cyrus M., 

Shubael, 

Silvanus, 
Hutchinson, Thomas, 

William, 
Hyde, Ezra, 
Hyland, Jlenry, . 

Indian Head River, 
Ingraliam, Joscpli, 
Ireland, John, . 
Iron Mine Brook, 

Jackson, Joseph, . 

Thomas, 

& Ewell, 
Jacob, Benjamin, 

David, . 
Jacobs, Barton, . 

Benjamin, 

Benjamin R., 

Charles, 

James, . 

Joseph, . 

Joshua, . 

Samuel. . 
Jacobs' Mills, 
James, A'bert, 

Arlburll., . 

P.enjatnin, 

i'enjamiri K., 

Charles I,., . 

f:harles T., . 

Dean K., 

Wward B., , 

Wward S., 

YAv/in I., 

Elisha, . 

Elisha F. 

Iraiifjs, 

I'rank I., 

Kretlerick A., 

George, . 

George B., 

Harry I., 

Henry I'., . 

Herbert J., . 

John. 

Josiah 1... 

Nathaniel, 

Nel»on P., 

Reginald S., ■ 

Robert K., . 

William, 227, 248, 
262, 263, 268, 270, 

William A., 

William G., 

William H., 



T'AfJK 








PAOB 


• 74. ^^'i 


James, Williams B. 




, 


37» 


I z '■, 


Williams K., 




. 


37a 


221 


«: 'lorrey. . 




. 


271 


. 217,284 


Jarvis, John, 




. 


338 


174 


Jeffries, iJavid, 




. 


aSs, 338 


261 


Jenkins, Calvin, . 






333, 34J 
, 248, 26& 


261 


Coleman, 


'35 


192 


256 


Cummings, . 






'34, 384 
, 388, 38<> 


174 


David S., 




384 


261 


Davis, 






380 


4 


Elijah, ir2, 792, 


250, 


271 


279, 322» 


19 


, 360, 368, 369, 


383. 


384. 


388 


19 


Henry 'J ., 


, 


. 


279. 


332 


James, . 






102 


. . 98 


John . . 


271, 


36; 


, 383. 384 

3''8- 


324 


Joseph, . 






30 
320 


I-eiiiuel, 
Noah, . 






250 
384. 189 


232 


Noble E., 






19a 


379 


Oliver, . 


848 


2>5o 


. 318. 369 


. . 383 


^'clcg. 74. 137. 


192, 


•97. 


250, 271, 


06, 208, 212, 'jijf 


320, 340, 383, 
PelegT., . 


384, 


388 




28', 






388, 389 


90 


ReMb.;n V., . 






389 
378 




I<ob.:rt, . 






107 


Samuel, . 






270 


232 


'J'homas, 






263 


235 


Jesuroon, J. A., . 






385 


261 


Jnott, Robert, 






% 


■ *%o, 285. 373 


Job's Landing, 






339 


Joerns, Herman, . 






'55 


3' 5 


Herman O., . 






155 


391 


John Palmer Log B 
Johnson, Charles A 


ridg' 


' ; 


34 
'97 


6 


Humphrey, . 






34 


. 299, 304 


William, 






'7« 


• 337. 338 


Jones, Amos, 






'73 


6 


Charles, . 
Christopher, . 






283 
73 


:■//, 


Christopher B, 






237 


129 


John, . . 






83.211 


M'J 


John C, 






168 


253 


John Paul, 
Samuel, 






3'''7 






83. '73 


yj 


'I li'.mas K., . 






i-/t 


v^ 


William A., . 






107 


. 322,34' 


Jo*»elyn, Charles, 






16, 21, 24 


3'' 


Freeman M., . 






113 


3" 


George M., . 


II j 


, i\< 


, fi8, 119 


3" 


Isaac, 






9. '24 


3' 3 


John R., 
Joseph, . 
Natl.an, . 






9 

9 


■■," 






369 


262 


Nathaniel, , 






124 


294 


f)rrin. 






2* 


• 377. 378 


Philip, . 






9 


. . 378 


Seth, . 






9 


378 


Thomas, 






9,13 


294 


William H., Hi 


. "4 


, 1 1' 


J, 1 18, 119 
298 


. . 378 


Joy, Benjamin, 






. . 378 


Edward C., , 






105 


377 


M. P., . 






50 


294 


Joyce, Samuel, 






311 


. 24-;, 260, 377 










377 


Keen, Andrew, 






355 


294 


Benjamin, 
Charles W., . 


55 


.35c 


.35', 35* 


. . 378 






351 


262 


Cornelius, 






351 


262 


George R., . 






351 


377 


Isaac, . 






v/>, 352 


262 


John, . 






SS-J 


262 


Josiah, . 
Martin, . 






350 


. . 378 






35' 


. 26'., 261, 313 


Nathaniel, 






3'/^35« 


262 


Simeon, 


238 


.35 


■-,35'. 352 


261 


Stevens, 


. 




35« 


294 


William. 
Keith, Charles, . 






35' 


378 






2',7 


377 


George, . 






209 


, 254, 255, 261, 


James, , 






211 


0, 271, 363, 366 


Kemp, William & f 


'<>., 




i</> 


262 


Kcmplon, David R 


, , 




344 


377 


D. B., , 






344 


262 


Ephraim, 


• 




a/ji 



414 



INDEX. 



Kender. William J., 
Kendrick, John, . 

Kennedy, John M., & Co., 
Kent. Barker B., . 

Benjamin. . 371, 372 

Benjamin K., 

Charles, 

Charles D., . 

David . 

Ebenezer, 

Edward F., 

Elisha, . , 277 

E^ekiel, . 

Ichabod, 

Isaac, 

Jo., . . 

John, 366, 369, 370, 371 
37S, 379 

Tohn H., 

>hn H. B., . 

lonathan, 

Joshua, . 

Joseph, 149, 877, 370. 371. 

^.374. 3.7S, 379 

Nathaniel, . . 371, 

Noah B., . . 295, 

Peleg, . . . 230, 

Samuel, 56, 340, 366, 369, 
372, 374, 376. 379. 3S0, 
uelH., . 



Sam 

Samuel K., 

Smith, . . 3 

Stephen, 

Thomas, 

Warren, 

William, 
King, George, 

Orrice, . 

Thomas, 
King's Landing, . 
Kingman, Abel, . 

David. . 

Eliphalet, 

George, . 

Henry, . 

John, 
Kingman's Yard, . 
Kinsman, Jeremiah, 
Kirkoterp, C, 
Knapp, Henr>- A., 
Knowles, Robert, 

Lambert, James, . 

John, 

Jonathan, 

Michael. 
Lang, John H. B., 
Lapham, Elijah, . 

King, . 

Samuel, . 

Thomas, . 

WiUi.^mT., . 
Lascnby, Thoma<, 
Lathrop, John, 
Lawrence, A. & A., 

Cakes, o 

Thomas, 

& Co., . 
Lay, William, 
Laielle, Perkins & Co, 
Leavitt, Gad, 

Josiah, . 
Lee, Charles, 
Lcfurgey, Lemuel, 
Legg. Samuel, 
Lenth.il. Robert, . 
Leonard, Isaac, . 

George, . . 
Lc Roy, Charles, 

Thomas Otis & Co. 
Lewis, Abiel S., . 

Asa R., . 

Bela, . 



;o, 360, 



13 


Lewis, B A., 


145 


2QQ, 305 


. Caivin, . 


59 


29S, 305 


I Daniel, . 


. 147. 176 


360 


Ebenezer, 


177 


, 377 


George, . 


177 


. 37*. 379 


James. . 


177 


371 


/ames H., 


176 


37S 


j Jarvis, . 


266 


373 


! jehiel, . 


177 


. 373. 374 


j . esse, 


176 


370. 371 


1 l[ohn. 


3S9 


376 


, onathaa. 


177 


. 378. 379 


1 ,oseph, . 


176, 177, 200 


.371.379 


Leab, 


177 


379 


; Paul, . 


177 


371 


Rogers, . 


177 


369 


Samuel, . 


. 176, 177 


37a. 374. 


S. W. & Co., 


257 




Thomas, 


• 177.206 


376 


William, 


176, 177, 237 


37* 


Willi.-«nG., . 


III 


372. 373 


Winslow, 


132 


370 


Lifkin & Ironside, 


143 


372.373. 


Lillie. Richard, . 


. 260, 366 




Samuel, 244, 26c, 


2S4. 285, 337, 


. 378, 379 


^338. 359. 366. 307 




. 376, 377 


Thomas, 


244. 337. 366 


, 277, 37S 


Lincoln, Abraham, 


• 155. 310 


370,371. 


Cal\-in, . 


264 


3S1, 382 


George H. . 


297 


376 


Jacob, . 
Jerome, . 


• 45. 3JO 


376 


310 


378, 379 


Levi, 


239 


371. 372 


Nichols, 


297 


37S 


Linkler. John, 


337 


'73 


Litchfield, Addison, 


241 


37S, 379 


Asa, 


135 


21 


Austin, . 


384 


316 


Bemani, 


241 


2S5 


Cah-in, . 


343 


37 


Charles A., . 


252 


313 


Cummings, . 241 


, 242, 341, 342 


120, 127 


Elijah, . 


241 


323 


E.xperience, . 


363 


125 


Foster, . 


341 


US 


Freeman, 


340 


125 


Han-ey, . 


322 


"S 


Hersey, . 


341 


152 


Isaac, 


:«8S 


II'? 


Tames, . 


135 


ss 


justice, . 


3S4 


336 


John, 


341 




Leonard. 


341 


204 


Meljar, . 


• 137. 387 1 


231 


Paul. . 


3»2 


244 


Peter, . 


258, 


337 


Simeon, . 


. 134. 192 1 


322 


William, 


342 


193 


& BurriU, 


240 


277 


Lither, James, 


363 


269 


Little, Amos, R., . 


2S6 


237. 374 


Edwin P 


, 273, 281 


67 


Francis B., . 


382 


338 


George, . 


286 


374 


Isaac, . . 39 


337. 3«>, 366 


134 1 


James, . 248, 249 
ledediah. 


250, 36S, 369 


242 1 


. 212,365' 


341 


Luther, . 


212, 2S6, 352 I 


192 


Peabody, 


35' 


232 


Soloman, 


30I 1 


22 


Little's Bridge, 


38 : 


'35! 


Little's Creek, 


44 ' 


261 ; 


Lloyd, Edward, . 
Locke, Gusuvus, . 


»iS , 


149 


316 1 


6 1 


Logan, Arthur C, 


S3i 


2S1 


Harry v., . 


S3' 


98! 


Samuel C, . 


SS 


113, ii3 


Lombard, Amme C, . 


321 


313 1 


Benjamin, 


4« 


140 


Ephraim, 


321 


155 


Tedediah, 


46 


III 


Ji Hall. . 


197 


3S6 


Lommis, Nathaniel, 


33S ; 


i»2l 


Long Marsh, 


4t . 





PAGE 


Longfield, Thomas, 


106 


Long\vater Brook, 


24 


Loring, Alden, 


179 


Bailey H., . 


83 


1 Benjamin W., 


83 


Elijah, . . 


193 


' John A., 


83 


William L., . 


83 


Lovell, Abner W., 


207 


j Gorham, 


207 


1 James S., 


177 


Levering, William, 


136 


Low. Jeremiah, . 


148, 277, 278 


1 Lucas, Samuel, . 


350 


Luce, J., 


344 


Stephen, 


344 


Ludd.-un's Ford, . 


7 


Lunt, Abel, . 


92 


George, . 


. 220, 365 


Samuel, . 


: ill 


Thomas, 


Luther, Job, 


23 


Macej- & Co., 


143 


Mackey, James, . 


370 


MacNeil, Archibald, . 


166 


Macomber, Herbert I., 


67 


LH., . . . 


67 


Thomas, 


85, 244 


Walter S., 


267 


William. 


• 343. 351 


Magoun, Aaron, . 


. 179, 1S2 


Aaron S., 


. 182, 1S3 


Abner, . 


91 


Briggs, . 


3'3 


Daniel, . 


182, 1S3, 195 


David, . 


164 


Elia-s . 


. 19s, 2IO 


Enoch, . 


• 73. 183. 


H. N 


183 


Joshua, . 
Luther, . 


. 74. 183 


. 196, 313 


Philip, . 


183 


Robert, . 


82, 182, 1S3 


Thatcher, 


183, 20I, 2^4 


Winchell, 


183 


& Turner, 


141, i33, 269 


Magoun's Bridge, 


24 


itaker, James, 


46 


Manchester, 'Thomas, . 


269 


Manly, G . 


322 


S 


322 


Mann, Albert G., . 


•7 


Benjamin, 


«7 


Caleb, . 


•7 


N. P. .% Co., . 


143 


Thomas, 


. 222,368 


Manson, George, . 


. no, 102 


Joel, . . . 


306 


Joel L., . . 


139. »40, 386 


John, . Ill, 139 


140. 279, 386 


Nehemiah, 119, 250, 


25a, 310, 368, 


369. 3S0 




Thomas L., no 


139. 140, 192 


Marble, James, . 


<8i 


Thomas, 


310 


Marden, E. Edward, . 


156 


Margaret's Brook, 


31 


Marsh, Charles N., 


104 


Marshal, lohn, . 


284 


Marshall, 'Charles H., . 


164 


Samuel, . 


. 244, 367 


Martin, Edward, . 


. 284.337 


WUliam, 


142 


W 


144 


Martyn, Edward, . 


261 


Mason, William, . 


155 


Matthew, Richard. 


359 


Matthews, Reuben, 


359 


Ma.xfield. W. S., . 


i^ 


Maxwell, E., 


195 


May, Samuel T., . 


• 232,333 


Mavo, Jeremiah, , 


322 


Meader, Robert, . 


xd6 







INDEX. 






415 




PAGE 




PAGE 




PAGE 


■Meigs, Montgomery C, . 155 


Nash, Lemuel, 


250 


Otis, John C, 


75 


Melville, Thomas 


, . . 48 


Nath. C, 


297 


loseph, . . . 124, 227, 367 


Mercy, Marvin, 


154 


Paul, . 


181 


Joshua, . 
Noah, . 


261, 343 


Merrit, Daniel, 


237 


Thomas, 


250 


246 


^lerritt, Benjamir 


, . 262, 340, 341 


William, 


• 237. 250 


Oran G., 


125 


Benjamin F., 


262 


Neal Field, . 


41 


Stephen, 


251, 291 


Charles, 


271 


Neale, George F., 


376 


Thomas, . . 237, 251, 311 


Consider, 235 


, 258, 313, 340, 343, 


George S., 


376 


William, 


251 


368 




Lawrence I., . 


376 






Cummings, 


340 


Nelson, H. W., . 


209 


Packard, Ambrose, 


88 


Elisha, . 


. 136, 258, 340 


Thomas, 


38,86 


Elijah, . 


85, 216 


Francis , 


340 


Newcomb, Loring, 


376 


Josiah, . 


88 


George, . 


343 


Newell, Albert W., . 


197 


Ralph, . 


88 


Henry, . 


. 246, 257, 340 


James, . 


46 


Palmer, Bezaleel, 


246 


Israel, . 5 


57. 342, 368, 380,387 


New Harbor, 


38 


Charles, . 


• 73. 190 


James, . 


343 


New Harbor Ferry, . 


38 


Daniel, . 


73 


fames H., 


• 134. 3*59 


Newman, Thomas, 


366 


Daniel T., . 


190 


'•Joe," . 


237 


Nickerson, Caleb, 


232, 233 


Enos, . 


91,92 


John A., 


262 


Ebenezer, 


loi, 175 


Ephraim, 


72, 190 


Jonathan, 


237 


Elijah, . 


lOI 


Jeduthan, . 72, 73, 189, 190 


Joseph, . 


• 257. 238, 340 


Nichols, Benjamin, 


3'3 


John, . . 34, 7 


2, 131, 246 


Joseph F., 


. . . 258 


Caleb, . 


263, 283 


Thomas, 


261,339 


Joseph H., 


340 


Henry, . 


263, 283 


William, 


73 


Malley, . 


258 


Israel, . 


283, 386 


William T., . 


190 


Martin D., 


. 134, 341 


Noah, . 


283 


Panton, Lawrence, 


114 


Noah. . 


246 


Reuben, 


263 383 


Parker, Benjamin, 


375 


Obadiah, 


246 


Samuel, . 


283 


Edward H., . 


239 


Walter, . 


. . 258 


Thomas, 


282, 283 


George S., 


383 


William, 


. . 258 


Norman, James, . 


350 


Joseph S. B., 

Perry L., . .38 


382 


William 0., 


. . 258 


Joshua, . 


350 


2. 389. 391 


Middlecott, Richa 


rd, . . 366 


North, Lord, Frederick, 


98 


Thomas, . . 24 


4. 344, 367 


Middleton, Danie 


. . . 338 


North River Bridge, . 


29 


William, 


214 


Miers, Thomas, 


. . 384 


Northey, David, 


367 


William G., . 


383 


Mighill's Works, 


23 


John, 


42, 367 


Parkhurst, J., 


'57 


Miller, Josiah, 


. . 87 


Joseph, . . .32 


2. 385. 389 


Parkman, Samuel, 


193 


Mills, Carleton P. 


2Q4 


Samuel, 


367 


Parris, Albion K., 


153 


Misquashtuck, 


. . 287 


Norton, Freeman, 


314 


Alexander, 


200 


Mitchell, Aaron, 


105 


Nye, Jonathan, 


106 


Parson, Edward, . 


337 


Archibald, 


391 






Parsons, Eben, 


48 


Christopher & 


Co., . 235 


Oakman, Christopher, . 


264, 359 


Moses, . 


237 


C. & Co., 


. 231, 234 


Constant, 


48 


Page, Edward, 


155 


Paul & Sons, 


235 


Constant F., . 


211, 235 


Paine, Thomas, . 


387 


Samuel, . 


3'3 


Edward, 


204 


Paul, James I , . 


383 


Molly Stetson Pla 


ce, . . 223 


Hatch. . 


211 


Luther, . 


383 


Momentague, Jere 


miah, . 2 


Hiram, . 


203 


Luther G., 


383 


Money Hole, 


27 


Hiram A., 


203 


Robert, 


74 


Mooers, William, 


. 170. 171 


H. P., . 


203 


Payne, Silas, 


231 


Moore, George, 


. 41,2.9.283 


John, 


277 


William, 


366, 367 


Morris, George P. 


42, 43 


Joseph, . 


277 


Peabody, John, . 


284 


Morse, Jabez, 


157 


Nathan S., . 


203 


0. W 


186 


Morten, George, 


261 


OtisB., 


203 


Pearson, John M., 
Pease, J. H., 


320 


Morton, Frederick 


"3 


Samuel, . 


211,277 


182 


George, . 


. 18.., 343 


Tobias, . 


57.218 


Pendergast Bros., 


391 


John F., 


154 


Oakman's Ferry, . 


36 


Penniman, James, 


70 


Nathaniel, 


290 


Ober, John, . 


284 


Peperel, William, 


284 


Silas, 


. 221, 250 


Old Barstow Yard, 


65 


Pepper, Bangs, 


322 


Motley, Thomas, 


. . 381 


Old Pond, . . , . 


3t 


Percival, John, 


232 


Moulton, Robert, 


47 


Old Pond Swamp, 


31 


Perry, Amos, 


85 


Murray, R., . 
McCooke, J. M., 


. . 3*6 


Oldham, Aurora W., . 


196, 360 


Edward Y., 12, 15, 17, 


8, 22, 26, 


390 


A. W , . 


89 


85 




McCullough, John 


104 


David, . 


18 


E. Y., & Co , 


17 


McDonnellson, M 


armaduke, 354 


Jonathan, 
Joseph, . 


237 


Isaac, . . 84, 85, 


)o, 97. 127 


Samuel, . 


3';4 


235 


Isaiah, . 


22 


Mclntyrc, Willian 


1, . . 360 


Oliver, Brattle, . 


261 


Joshua, . 
Paul, . 


158 


McKay, Donald, 


. 132, 197 


Daniel, . . 285, 33 


7.339. 368 


129 


Hugh & Dona 


Id, . . 269 


Nathaniel, . . 28 


). 339. 368 


Thomas, 


?5 


McLaughlin, Lew 


is, . . 197 


Peter 


261 


Timothy, 


85 






Orchard, Robert, . 


21? 


William, 


85 


Namassakeeset, . 


I 


Osborn. David C, 


316 


Peters, John, 


75 


Nash. Albert E., . 


296 


Osgood. J. C, . 


143 


Peterson, Luther, 


277 


Arthur L, 


296 


& Bachelder, 


293 


Richard. 


50 


Benjamin, 


250 


Otis. Abijah, . . 246 


. 319. 382 


Thomas, 


219 


Charles E., . 


296 


Gushing, 135, 192, 235, 


250, 251, 


Pettee, Noah B., . 


382 


Chauncy C. . 


296 


263, 268, 293, 311, 320 


369 


Seth, 


382 


Edward E., . 


87 


David, . . .26: 


. 369. 380 


Pettingill, Phineas, 


"3 


Franklin, 


296 


Edwin, . . . . 


390. 39 1 


Ubert K., 


376 


Herbert, 


296 


Ensign, 133, 252, 25. 


, 268, 380 


Ubert L.. 


376 


Israel, . 


296 


Henry T., . 


384 


Warren, 


114 


John, 
John C, 


235 


Herbert, . . . 


227 


Perkins, Joseph, . 


321 


• 229 


Howland, . . 


192, 391 


Phillips, Benjamin, . 14 


3, 152, 163 


John F., 


296 


Isaac, . . . . 


251 


Calvin T., . 


14, '7, 36 


^'ohn K., 


. 229 


James, . . .164 


.251.293 


Daniel, 74, 181, 196, 198 


. 352, 356. 


[oseph, . 


249 


Job 


0^1, 366 


^?^l 




Joseph P., . 


350 


John, . . . ■- 


227 


Elisha, ... 7 


h 195, 3S 



416 



INDEX. 



17, 18 



Phillips, Ephraim, 

Ezra, 

E., & Sons, 1 

Isaac, 

John, 

Joseph, . 

Lot, 

Lot & Co., 

Morrill, . 

Morrill A., 

Samuel, 
Phinney, J W., 

W. L.. - 
Pickering & Math 
Pierce, Elijah, 

Howard, 

Isaac, 

Matthew, 
Pierson, John H,, 

William, 
Pincin, Elias, 
Pincin's Bank, 
Pintard, J M., 
Pitney, James, 
Pitts, James, 

John, 
Plaisted, Francis, 
Pocorny, Joseph, 
Point Adams, 
Pollard, George, 
Pope, Kbenezer, 
Porter, Alvin, 

Edward F., 

Edward J., 

Isaac, 

Oliver, . 
Post, George, 

& Small, 

Potter, Stephen M 

Power, Arthur L., 

.A. H., . 

Howard S., 

Nelson F , 

Samuel F , 
Pratt, Benjamin, 

Charles C, 

Elias E., 

Elias W., 

Henry, . 

Jarius, . 

Joseph, . 

Nathaniel, 

William B., 

& Lapham, 
Preble, George H 
Prentiss, Henry, 
Preston. William, 
Price, Job, . 

John, 

Samuel, . 
Project Dale, 

Prouty, Alvord, 

Caleb, . 

Caleb W,, 

David, . 

Edward, 

Elmer, . 

Isaac, 

James, . 

Margaret, 

Oliver, . 

Richard, 

Silas, 

Thomas, 

Thomas L., 
Pudder Wharf, 
Pullen, John, 
Pynchon, Perez, 



Quaker Meeting House Shoals, 29 

Quincy, Samuel, 139, 317, 320, 321 



PAGE 

163 

19, 20, 22 

17, 20, 23 

277 
46, 285 

272, 343. 351 
26 
26 
124 
17 
285 
82 
257 
154 
341 
261 
21, 252 
343 
137.239 
107 
341 
45 
298 
148, 162 
261, 366 
2S5 
338 
125 
308 
49. 50 
269 
55 
385, 389 
137 
356 
350 
107 

390 
157 
229 

390 
239 
229 

229 
190 
135 
1^5 
13s. 137 
104 
269 
252 
352 
135 
32 
336 
297 
353 



, 244, 366 

12 

265 

343. 356 

388, 3^9 

27 

. 244. 265 

265 

244 

265 

31 

265 

31.244 

135 

343 

39' 

39 

217 

252, 380 



Rainbow Bridge, 
Ramsdale, Charles, 



Son 



29, 122 I 

50 I 



Ramsdell, Clifford, 
Rand, William, 
Randall, Alien, 

Benjamin, 

Charles, . 

Elijah, . 

Ephraim, 

Isaac, 

Tames, . 

"Job, 

Nehemiah, 

Samuel, . 

William, 
Randolph, John, 
Rankin, Andrew 
Rawson, Abel, 
Ray, Brazilla, 

Simon, . 
Read, Esdr.is, 
Reed, Jesse, 

John, 

Samuel. . 

Smith T., 

William, 
Rich, Benjamin & 

Moses, 
Richardson, Jeffrey, 

Richmond. Perez 
Rider, Thomas, 
Riddell, Samuel, 
Ripley, Lewis, 
Roberts, Nicholas 
Robbins, Aaron 

Anson, . 

Timothy, 

Walter, . 
Robinson, G eorge 

Isaac, 
Rockwell, Dennis 

Eben, 

Ebenezer, 
Rocky Reach, 
Rock Run Brook, 
Rocky Swamp, 
Rocky Water Stream, 
Rodgers, Henry C, 

John, 

John L., 

Luther, . 
Rodman, Samuel, 
Rogers, Abiah, 

Abijah, . 

Alden, . 

Alfred, . 

Alvin, 

Amos, . 

Araunah, 

Arthur, . 

Asa, 203, 204, 208 

Avery, . 

Benjamin, 

Clifford, . 

Chft, . 

C. H.. . 

Daniel, . 

Edward, 

Edwin T., 

George C , 

George H., 

Henry, . 

Henry W., 

Herbert, 

Howland, 

Isaac, 

Isaiah, . 

Israel, . 

James, , 

James L. 

Jedediah, 

John, 

Joseph, . 

Jcfiephus, 

JothAm, . 



75 
125 

313 

261 

221 

89, 90 

. 359. 360, 361 

244 

163, 164, 243 

83. 243, 244 

243 

243 

64, 243 

330 

337 

167 

50 

275 

288 

4. 15. 195 

15&. 17? 

50 

270 

136 

319 

192, 313 

376 

146 

30 

133 
105 
154 
339 
235 
. 235. 237 

90 
249 
367 

45 



204 



21, 25 
206 
201 
172 

204 

■ 204 313 
205 

205, 206 

206, 213 
, 206, 209 

203 

205 



238, 



340 



, 202, 
, 207, 



206 

235. 273 

209 
198, 206 

318,319 

212 



208, 209 
204 
204 
205 
204 
206 

203, 204, 237 
205, 206, 212 
2C6, 209, 212 

204, 205, 208 
. 207, 247 

206 
205 

205, 244, 261 I 
247, 250, 252 

205 
205 



PAGE. 
Rogers Luther, 58, ig8, 199, 202, 206,. 

210,212, 213, 358,359 
Marcellus W., . . 206 

Martin, . . . 204,207,238 

Moses 322,359. 

Moses F., . . . 361 

Nathan, . . 205, 285, 313 

Nathaniel, 202, 203, 206, 211, 212 
Nathaniel C, . . 204 

Peleg, . 202, 205, 206, 212, 222 
Phillips, . . . 204 

Samuel, 126, 176, 182, 203, 205, 

206, 209, 210, 232, 233, 237, 239, 
.341 
Simeon, .... 206 

Stephen, 61, 74, 195, 196, 209, 210, 

212, 359 
Thomas, 202, 203, 204, 205, 210, 

212, 237, 31; 



Timothy, 

Wales, . 

Wales A., 

Warren, 

William, 

William A., 

William F., 

William H. 

Zaccheus, 

Zac, 

Zadoc, . 
Rogers Brook, 
Rogers Whatf, 
Rose, John, . 

Joshua, . 

Laban, . 

Timothy, 
Rotch, Benjamin, 

Francis, . 

William, 167, I 

Wiufam & Co, 
Rouse, William, 
Royal, Joseph, 
Ruck, John, . 
Ruggles, John, 

Samuel O., 

Thomas, 
Rusk, John, 
Rus.sell, Benjamin 

Charles, . 

George, . 

Samuel, . 

Solomon, 
Ryal, Isaac, . 

Joseph, . 
Ryder, B. G. & G 



170, 



203, 212 
206, 359 
204 
204 
204 
20s, 357 
205 
209 
204 

237 
201; 

3^ 
44 
46 

124. 

124 

24 

171 

165, 173 

171. 172, 



Sadler, John, 
Saffin, John, 
Salmond, John, 
Robert, 
Samuel, 



. E. 



170 

337 
284 

367- 
250. 339, 367 
313 
237. 254 
337 
42 
108 
41,42 
178, 291 
9 
285 
285 
14S 



Samuel & Son, 
William, 
Sampson, Alexander, 
Aurora O., 
Calvin, . 
Chandler, 
Henry, . 
John, 



333 

290 

33 

15, 16. 33. 87, 182 

13. 16, 33, 66, 87, 123 



33 

33 

70 

68, 70 

. . 185 

74. 19s. 210, 351 

68- 

70 

Jonathan, 63, 69, 70, 71, 73, 123, 

176, 182, 234 



Joseph, . 

Melzar, . 

Paul, . 

Proctor, 

Timothy, 
Samson, Jonathan, 

Melzar, . 
Sanford, F. C, 51, 16 

235 
Sargent, Daniel, , 
Savage, Thomas, . 
Sawyer, C, . 



322 
70 
277 
355 
70 

68, 70,181,182 

378 

167, 169, 225, 

229 
366 
257 



INDEX. 



417 



PAGE 
217 

285 

380 

34 

2i8, 219 

3Q0 



Sawyer, James, 
Schewsan's Neck, 
Schmidt, G. F., . 
Schooset Creek, . 
Scott, John, . 
Scudder, N. D., & Co. 

Seabury, A H. & Bro., . 106 

John, .... 83: 

Samuel 83 

Seabury's Point, ... 82 

Seabury 's Woods, . . 82 

Seaman, Emory, ... 190 

Sears, David, . . . 225 

Eben, .... 143 

Ebenezer, . . . 320 

J. B. 390 

& Davis, . . . no 

& Fitch, ... 154 

Seaward, Andrew, . . 273 

Second Herring Brook, . 35 

Se^/er. John E , . . . 114 

Sewall, Edmund Q., . 329 

E. Q. 331 

Seyward, James, . , . 337 

Shannon, Hugh, . . . 244 

Shaw, Robert G., . . 320 

William, . . . 207 

& Randall, ... 188 

Shearmon, Isaac, . . . 101 

Shelley, William N., . 113,115 

Shepard, Calvin, . . . 196, 360 

Charles, . . . 338 

Sheperd, Joseph J., 191 

Joseph R., . iqi 

Julias R., . . . 191 

Shepherd, Calvin, . . 6 

Nathan T 6 

Stephen, ... 50 

Sherman, Aaron, . . , 83, 273 

Abraham, . , . 154 

Amos, .... 360 
Asa, 55, 56, 74, 195, 196, 210, 379, 

380 

Ebenezer, . . 273 

Israel H., . . io2,225,3r3 

John, .... 148, 160 

Lorenzo, . . . 80, 182 

Shimmin, William, . . 133 

Shippen, Edward, . . 337 

Shorter, Charles, ... 50 

Shurman, John, . . . 277 

Shurtleff, Flavel, ... 20 

Shute, Richard, . . . ?I7 

Silver Brook, ... 30 

Silvester, Csee also Sylvester) 

"Builder," . . 66,63 

Elijah W., . . . 66,68 

George F., . . . 66 

l^ot H., . . . 277 

Nathaniel, ... 66, 68 

Samuel, .... 246, 247 

Simmons, Byron, . . . 361 

Charles, ... 32 

Samuel, .... 343 

Thomas, . . . 322 

Simons, Moies, . . . 244 

Simpkins, Samuel, . . 367 

Thomas, . . . 366 

Sizor, James, . . . 316 

Skmner, Benjamin H., . 321 

Slab Brook, .... 31 

Smith, Albert, 85, 86, 87, 89, 93, 92, 93, 

94, 103, 128, 212 



Benjamin, 
David. . 
Erasmus F. 
Gilbert, . 
Heman, 
James, . 
Jeremiah, 
John, 
Jonathan, 
Joseph, . 
Joshua, . 



228, 236 

179 
197 
232 
'42, 144, 145. 279 

338 
87 
85 

IC2, 106, 107 

22, 85, 86, 387 

185 



Smith, Josiah, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 90,92, 
93, 94, 103, 128 
Josiah M., ... 13 

J. H., . . . . 144, 390 
Laban, .... 281 

Miller, . . 85, 89, 93, 94, 128 
Milliar, ... 89, 93, 94 

Nathaniel, 179, 180, 182, 198, 312 
Phillip, . . . . 157 

Richard, . . .40, 261 
Samuel, .... 277 

Sidney, . . . 197 

Silvanus, . . 195, 197, igS 

Thomas, 85, 89, go, 91,93, 153 iS7 
Thom?sM., ... 85 

William 205, 228, 260, 261, 338, 

367 
Zelpha D., . . . 197 

& Townsend, . . 197 

Snow, David, . . . 343 

E.,^ .... 257 

Josiah, .... 152 

Sylvanus, , . . 343 

Thomas, . . 193 

Somes, Nehemiah, . . 89 

Soper, Robert, O., . . 387 

Samuel, . . . 344 

Soule, James, , . . 17 

John 173 

Southard, John, . . 236 

Souther, John, . . 269 

Laban, 237, 252,253, 254,255, 257 
& Cudworth, 252, 255, 256, 257, 
267, 

Southerton, John, . . 350 

Richard, . . . 350 

Southworth, Edward, . . 265 

Frank, .... 265 

James .... 265 

Stacy, .... 265 

Sparrell, James N., . . 270,322 

.Spaulding, J., . . . 344 

Spear, William, . 

Spencer, George W., 
Peter. 



Sprague, B., 
Charles,. 
Phineas, 
Samuel, . 

Seth 236 

William, . . . 273 

& James, . . . 239 

Spring Brook, ... 35 

Sproat, Thomas, . . . 180 

Sprout, Ebenezer, . . 68 

Spruce Swamp, ... 35 

Stacy, Simon, . . . 338 

Standish, Miles, . . . 292 

Shadrach, . . . 133 

Stanton, Francis, . . 315, 317 

Starbuck, David, . . 104 

Levi, .... I2Q 

& Co 107 

Starkey, Robert, . . 244 

Stearns, William, . . 67 

Stedman, Isaac, ... 41 

Stephens, C. J., . . , 391 

Sterling, PanI, . . . 193 
Stetson, (See also Stutson.) Abishai, 21 



Abner, 
Alpheus, 
Alpheus M., 
Archie, , 
Benjamin, 
Charles, 
Charles T., 
Daniel F. W. 
Eben, 



IS. 



102, 132 

223. 295. 375 

375 

375 

6, 21, 220 

14s, 223 

23. 24 

375 

133 



Ebenezer, 219, 220, 221, 222, 3S1, 

382 
Edward F., . . . 375 

Elisha, .... 223 

Ephraim, ... 91 

Ethan A., . . . 22 



PAGE 
Stetson, Franklin J., , . 375 

Fred, .... gg 

George, .... 222 

George W., . , . 135 

Harrison, ... gi 

Herbert O., . . . 375 

Horace,. . . . ro2 

John, 29, 35, 182, 196, 219, 221, 
222, 223, 364 

John A., ... 375 

Jonah .... 33 

Jonathan, 74, 182, 195, 210, 359, 
360 

Joseph 12 

Joshua, 6g, 74, 102, 132, 223, 254 
354 

Jotham, . 

Lincoln, 

Martin, . 

Martin W 

Matthew, 

Melzar, . 

Michael, 

Nahum, 

Nathaniel, 

Robert, CCornet) 12 
221, 223, 364 

Roger, . 

Samuel, 

Silas, 

Snow, 219, 220, 22 

Stephen, 

Sumner, 

Thomas, . 2: 

Turner, . 

William, 

William G., . 

Wiswell, 
Stetson's Brook, . 
Stetson's Shoals, . 
.'^tevenson, Bryant, 
Stockbridge, Benjamin 

B. &M., 

Charles, . 
Stockbridge, David, 3 
128 

John, . 

Joseph, . 

Lebeus, . 

Mariin, . 

Stephen, 

Thomas, 
Stockbridge's Mills. 
Stoddard, Enos M., 

Josiah, . 

Melzar, . 
Stoker, Philip E., 
Stony Brook, 
Stoughton, William, 
Strong, Caleb, 
Studley, Benjamin, 

Eliab, . 

Walter B., . 

Wilbam, 
Studley Mill Brook, 
Sturtevant, Ichabod, 

Peleg, . 

Zenas, . 
Stutson, (see also Stet 
220, 221, 222 

George, . 

Matthew, 

Robert, . 

Snow, 

Thomas, 
Sunken Log Brook, 
Sutton, John, 
Swain, David, 

George, . 

Reuben, 
Swan, Benjamin, . 
Sweeny, Edward, 
Swift, C. W., 

Josep.i, . 



132, 223, 241, 294 
223 
8S 
17 
220, 222 

222, 223 

90 

21, 22, 26 

39, 70, 91,92 

34, 219, 220, 

73. '•34 
', 33. 221 

^TO 
381,582 

220 

69 

222, 223 

9' 
220 

375 

223 

26 

91 

3+3 

127, 128 

133 

33. 34,41.42 

84, 89, 125, 

4t, 128 

21, 128 

66 

127, 128 

174, 250 

33 

42 

272 

313 
191 
"3 
?8 
366, 367 
158 
9 
25, 26 
191 
313 
25 
29 
124 
66 
son) Ebenezer, 



220, 221 
220 

32 

221, 222 
221, 222 

31 



lOl 



261 

, 105 
102 
104 
389 

9 
"3 
321 



418 



INDEX. 



Sylvester, Csee also Silvester) 

Albert L., 

Amos, . 

Barden, . 

Belcher, 

Benjamin, 

Charles W 

Edmund, 

Edmund Q., 29, 33, 66, 
109, 128, 140 

Elijah, . 

Elisha, . 

Francis B., 

Fruitful, 

Harvey, 

Herbert R., 

Ichabod, 

John, 

Joseph, . 

Joseph S , 

Lemuel C, 

Loami B., 

Michael, 

Michael R., 

Nathaniel, 

Robert, . . . 66, 

Robert B., 

Robert I., 

Robert W. 

Warren, 
Taft, A. J., . 
Taggard, John, & Co., 
Talbot, " Bill," 

Frank, . 

Richmond, 

William, 

William H. 

Zepheniah, 
Tapper, John, 
Taylor, Charles 

Edward R., . . . 376 

George, .... no, 142 

Henry, .... 281, 3^7 

Isaac, .... 164 

James, .... 4^ 

Jethco, .... 277 

John, .... 281 

Richard, . . . 280 

William, . . . 280, 281 

William M., 

& Carver, . . . 281 

Teague, Daniel, 
Teague's Bridge, 
Thatcher, B. B., 
Thaxter, Benjamin, 

John, 
Thayer, George A., 
" The Old Oaken Bucket 
Third Herring Brook, 
Thomas, Amos, 

Anthony, 

Benjamin, 

Briggs, . 

Charles, 

Charles F., 

Christopher, 

Daniel, . 



PAGE 

67 

67,68 

53 

67 

14 

256 

100 

67, 84, 87, 

90, 91 

247 
67 

256 
66 

255 

16, 17 

16 

67 

67 

67. 135 

66,67, 68 

, 113, 118 

67 

7, 68, 2ro 
67 

66 

66 

237 

20 

17 

140 

229 

229 

229 

140, 229 

33 



Daniel B., 

Ebenezer, 

Edward, 20, 160, 17 

Ephraim, 

Ezekiel, . 

Francis, 

George, 

George H., 

George H. A 

George P., 

Gershom, 

Gideon, . 

Henry, . 

Ichabod, 85, 127, 147 
153. 157. 158, 163, xf 
169, 170, 171, 172, rj 
294, 312 . 



T., 



235 

295 

43 

29 

159 

'49. 159.277 

83 153 

159. 277 

153. 159 

155. 156 

157 

148, 160 

156 

160 

284, 337 



160 

1, 322, 388 

i;3. 157 

156 

ij6 

»53. "56 

159 

148, 149 

160, 191 

149, 152, 

167, 168, 

■74. 175. 



PAGE 

Thomas, Isaac, ig, 20, 277 

Israel, .... 148, 159 
James, . . . 148, i<;2, 160 

Jesse, , . . 159, 160, 161 
Jethaniah, . . . 160 

John, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 
157. 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 
191, 27s, 277, 366 
Joseph, . . . 148, 159, 231 
Josiah, . . 149, 160, 161 

Lord, .... 160 

I'"ther 153, 159 

Nathan, 148, 152, 153. 158, 277 
Nathaniel, 19, 20, 159, 187, 277, 
364. 378 _ 

" 274,275,277 

378 
42, 159, 277 
154 
iqi 
312 
29 

343 
149, 203 
160 
163 
154 
154 



Nathaniel R., 
Nat, 

Nehemiah, 
Ralph W., . 
Ray, 
Robert, 
Robert B., . 
Rowland, 
Samuel, 
Simeon, . 
Thomas L., . 
Valentine, 
Waldo L., . 

William, 151 152, 157, 158, 159, 
160, 163, 173, 277, 278, 373 



William K., 

Winslow, 

Zenas, . 
Thompson, Jeremiah B 

Robert, . 

Thomas, 

& Fessenden, 

& Wiley, 
Thornton, Thomas, 
Tiffany, Recompense 
Tiffany Pond, 
Tilden, Albert, 

Allen C, 

Benjamin, 

Calvin, . 

Carleton, 

Charles, 

Charles A., . 

Charles L., 

David, . 

Edward, 

Edward F., . 

Elisha, . 

Frederick, 

George, . 

George W., 

Hatch, . 

Horatio A., 

Horatio N., 

John, 

Jonathan, 

Joseph, . 

Josiah, 



156 

'59 
277 
321 
193 
338 
321 
256 
217 
32, qo 
32 
313 
264 

37 

'8,37 

265 

37. 265 

265 

60 

261 

36 

265 

37, 205 

264 

264, 266, 278, 279 

278 

36, 37, 265, 272 

265 

265 

159, 263 

220 

32, 218, 262 

65 



Jotham, 36, 37, 263, 264, 265, 21 

269, 270, 278 
Lindale, . . . 341 

Luther, 36, 37, 263, 264, 265, 266 

268, 270 
Luther A., . . . 265, 386 
Nathan, . . . 37, 235 

Nathaniel, . . . 3'i, 367 
Samuel, 36, 37, 2s8, 237, 261, 264, 

265,277 



Stephen, 








148 


Thatcher, 








263 


Thomas, 








148 


Wales, . 






204 


3'4 


William, 








266 


William IL, 


264, 


265, 


278, 


279 


William P., 


58, 


266 


271 


330 


Tilding, Joseph, 








244 


Nathaniel, 








244 


TiU-s Creek, 








34 


Tilly, William, 








217 



PAOE 

Tindale, Thomas, . . 31 

Tisdale, James, ... 48 

Toby, Samuel, . . . 212 

Tolman, Benjamin, . . 136, 277 

Charles, . . 133, 136, 137, 250 

Elisha, 136, 137, 169, 195, 236, 238, 
250 

George B., . . . 137 

Herbert C, 

James T., 

John, 



■ '36, 295 
3?, 136, 221, 295 

36 
Joseph, , . 34, 136, 222, 230 
Joseph C, . . . 137,256 
Joseph R., . . . 233 

Samuel, 32, 85, no, 136, 137, 177, 

233. 235. 254, 255, 256 
William C, . . . T33 

Tolman'sJTack Works, . 32 



Tomlin, Thomas, 
Topham, W H., 
Torrey, Albert, 
Benjamin B., 
Caleb, . 
Charles, 
Charles E., 
Charles F.. 
Charles T., 
Daniel, 



• 217, 338 

323 

248 

I'. 97 

247, 748, 264 

. 248, 249 

249 

249 

299, 333. 334. 364 

^ . - • • 391 

David, 35, 238, 241, 248, 249, 251, 

252, 264, z63, 269, 2;o, 271 
Edwin B., . 
Ever tt, 
Frank H., . 
Franklin, 
George. 238, 247. 

251, 264, 268, 269 
George E., 



248, 249, 



249 
249 
249 

249 

250, 



249 



George H., 




249 


George O., 


248 


George & Sons, 


252 


Harry B., 


249 


Haviland, 


".99.359 


Henry, , 


248 


Herbert, 


11,97 


Howard C, . 


249 


Isaac, 


. 248, 250 


James, 12, 32, 4 


. 247, 248, 250, 


263, 264 




John D., 


• 248, 391 


Joshua, . 




48 


Josiah, . 




248 


Otis, . . 




248 


Walter R., . 




249 


WiUard, 




249 


William, 


10 


0, 248, 261 


Torrey, Williams & F 


eld, 


249 


Torrey's Brook, . 




23 


Totman, Benjamin O. 




391 


Tower, Benjamin, 




234 


David, . 




234 


James, . 




234 


John, . 33, 


72, 22 


0. 234. 354 


Lynde, , 




234 


Matthew, 




234 


Towne, William II. 




296 


Townsend, James L., 




197 


Penn, . 




284 


Tracy, Frederick, 




160 


Trent, John, 




285 


Tripp, Uncle Tom, 




58 


Trouant's Island, 




44 


Trout Brook, 




6 


Truant, Samuel, . 




207, 247 


Truworthy, James, 




336 


Tiiels, Barnard, . 




277, 3 '5 


Tulley, John, 




284 


Turner, Abiel, 




271 


Albion, . 




249 


Albion B., . 




249 


Alden, . 




75. 193 


Alden D., . 




191 


Amasa, . 




64 


Ambrose, 




191 


Amos, 




21, 332 



INDEX. 



419 



Turner, Andrew, . . . 191, 193 
Andrew W., . . . 191 

Arthur T., ... 82 

Augustus, . . . 191 

Barker, 56, 71, 74, 71;, I33. '34. 

13s, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 196, 

201, 313 
Benjamin, 127, 134, 147, 153, 163, 

164, 175, i8q, IQO, 191, 258 
Caleb, S3, 80, 134, 13s, 191. '93 
Calvin, 73, 127, 158, 174, 175, 179, 

189, 190 
Charles, 71,81,157,183,191,264 
Charles E., . . . 388 

Charles P 81,82 

Christopher, ... 19' 

Cyrus, 75, 191, 192, 193, 219 

Danforth F., . . . 388 

Daniel 29. 64 

David, . . . 127, 175, 190 
Edward E., . . . 191 

Edwin, .... 19' 

Elijah 31, 270 

Elijah B , ... 31 

Elisha 250 

Elmer E., . . . 191 

Ezekiel, ... 80 

Francis, . . . 183 

Frederick, ... 191 

George, 80, 82, 83, 98, i8r, 387 
George C, . . . 271 

George H., . . . 296 

George R., . . . 271 

Henry, . . . . 20=, 

Henry A., ... 271 

Henry J., . . . 388 

Humphrey, . . 64, 266, 291 

Isaiah A.,, . . .75. '9' 

Israel 237, 238 

Israel H., . . . 191 

James, . . . . 128 

Job, .... 247 

Job A., .... 249 

John, .... 265 

John D., . . . 271 

John H., . . . 271 

John P.. . . .81, 157 

Joseph F., . . . 296 

Joseph G , . . . 191 

Joseph M., . . . 191 

Joshua, . 126, 127, 175, 189 

Lemuel, . . . 42, 235 

Luther, .... 73 

Melzar, 196, 197, 198, 271, 384, 

387, 388, 389 
Melzar S., 195, 196, 197, 387, 388, 

389. 390 

Morris, .... 191 

Nathan S.. . . . 271 

Nathaniel, 134, 190, igi, 343, 368 



Roland, 
Samuel, 
Samuel A., 
Seth, . 
S. A , . 
Theodore, 
Thomas, 
Warren, 
William, 
3^7 



271 

237. 238, 313. 340,341 

42, 264, 278, 297 

261 

35 

• 313,341 

80, 81, 82, 83, 128 

82,191 

191, 223, 265, 313, 332, 



William F., . 
& Bnggs, 
& Palmer, . 
Turner, Otis & Cole, 
Turner, Otis &Co., 



266 

56, 388, 389, 390 

. . 183 

390 

391 



Turner, Palmer & Magoun, 71, 74, 

189, 190 

Turner's Yard, . . . 64, 80 

Tuttle, Jotham, . . . 372 

Nathaniel, . . . 377 

Two Mile Brook, . . 34 

" Two Oaks," ... 66, 84 

Underwood, James A. R., . 237 



257. 
208, 
192, 384, 

139. 



Union Bridge, 
Upper Ferry, 
Usher, J. P., 

Van Loon & Son, 
Vannuy-, Hervey L., 
Vassall, John, 

Stephen, 

William, 38, 40, 
Vaughan, Jnhn, . 
Venner, Henry, . 
Vickars, Joseph, . 
Vinal, Abel, 

Asa, 

Charles, 

Dexter, . 

Eaton, . 

Ephraim, 

Ezra, 

Gideon, . 

Haywood, 

Henry, 317, 3 

Henry A., 

Henry F., 

Howard, 

Ignatius, 

Israel, 

Joshua, . 

Lemuel, 138, 24c 
3613, 380 

Levi, 

Lott, 

Otis, 

Stephen, . . 222, 368, 

William, 134, 222, 249, 250, 
271, 309, 310, 320, 368, 369, 
38t, 385, 388 
Vose, Bill, . 
Vose, Livingston & Co., . 141 



36 
36 
155 



■ 38S: 



250, 380 
270 
135 
387 
3«5 



368 
351 
368, 

369 
309 
381 

. 369 
263, 
380, 



391 



Wade, Nathaniel, 

Snell, . 
Wadsworth, Joseph, 
Wair. Daniel, 
Wakefield, Cyrus, 
Walcot, Calvin, 

Walter, . 
AValden, Jacob, . 
Wales, Atherton, 

Eben , 

Ebenezer, 

George W., . 

Nathaniel, 

Thomas B., 139, i8<i 
317, 320, 321 

Thomas B., & Co., 
312, 317 

Thomas B., & Son, 

T. B.,&Co., 
Walker, B., . 

Thomas, 
Walker's Nail Factory 
Wall, Walter, 
Wallis, William, . 
Walnut Hill, 
Walter, Thomas, 

Thomas U., . 
Wanton, Edward, 21,25, 
217, 218, 219, 243, 

Gideon, . 

John, 

Joseph, . 

Michael, 

William, 
Wanton Brook, . 
Ware, Daniel, 

Nicholas, 
Warkins, William, 
Warren, Ira, 

James, . 

John, 
Washburn, Jabez, 

Seth, .^ • 
Washington, George, 



26 



222, 261, 368 
134, 270 
285 
, 284, 366 
256 
109 
'25 
'34 
53 



139 
79 
314.315. 3'6 



3'8 
315, 316,317 
378 
284 

44 
389 
217 

35 
222 

'55 

, 214, 215, 216, 
338 

216 

216 

216 

2, 21 

216 

35 

, 284, 366 

332 

215 



PAGE 

Waterman, Abijah, . . 159 

Andrew, . . . 380 

Anthony, 93,138,154,192,271, 

343. 380. 384 
Asa, .... 277 

EbenC, ... 75 

George, . . . 138 

Irsneus L , . . 13 

James, . . . . 380 

John, .... 277 

Joseph, .... 149 

Joshua, .... 148 

Lemuel C, . . 13 

L. C. &Co., . . 13 

L. C. & Sons, . . 12, n 
Nathaniel. . . .36, 3*18 
Rodolph C, . . . 13 

Thomas, 134, '35. '37. '38, '39. 

141, 159. 277, 359 
Thomas B., 110, 138, 140, 143 



'49 

,356 

'59 

328 



'38 

258 

'37. '38 

1-^2, 269 

284, 366 
. 368, 369 
279. 319. 340 

279. 322, 34'. 



261 



Thomas W., 

& Barstow, 

& Bates, 

& Ewell, 
Weare, Daniel, 
Webb, Barnabas, 

Lemuel, 

Seth, 74, 112, 192 
360, 384, 388 

Webster, AndreAr G., . . 295 

Daniel 161, 275 

David L., . . . 295 

Harrison B., . . . 295 

William, . . 337 

Weeks, Reuben, . . . 182 

Seth 50 

William, . . 314 

Weld. N. J., ... 142 

William F., . . . 142 

William F. & Co., . Mt 

W. F. 387 

Wellsteed, William, . . 339 

Welsh, John, . . . 244 

West, James H., ... 6 

" West Newlaud . . 286 

Weston, Asa, . . . 378 

Ezra, . . 183,236,357,358 

AVetherbee, George H., . 201 

Wheatland, Richard, . . 293 
Wheeler, Moses, . . . 317, 320 

Thaddeus, . . . 2-5 
Wheelwright, Lot, . . 376, 381 

&Co., .... 154 

White, Albert, ... 21 

Benjamin, 202, 205, 210, 277, 353, 
354 



Benjamin F., 

B., 

Cornelius, 

Frank, . 

John, 

Joseph, . 

Luther, . 

Penniah, 

Peresrine, 

Resolved, 

Robert, . 

Stephen, 

Timothy, 
V/^hite's Ferry. 
Whiting. David, 

Naih.. . 
Whitman. Benjam 

Cha.les, . 

Charles H., 

George T., 

Henry B., 

Ichal)od T., 

James H., 

Josiah, . 

J. H., . 

Levi, 

Peter S., 

Seth, . 



\ 



I2», 354 
148 

21. 353 

124 

173, 241 

159 
224 

354 
353. 355 
286, 332 

337. 354 
227 

25 

44 
13s 
3'3 
181 

82 
81,82 

82 

82 
15:^ 
200 

153 
18 > 
I5< 



I 



420 



INDEX. 



Whitman, Seth B., 
Thomas, 
Thomas T., . 

William T., . 
Whitmore, Edward, 
Whitney, Theodore, 
Whittaker, John L. 
Whittier, David, 
Wildcat Brook, . 
Wilde. Adia P., . 
Will James Dock, 
Will's Island, 
William Taylor Yard, 
Williams, Henry, 

Hezekiah, 

John, . 

Pelham, . 

& Haven, 
Williamson, Nathan, 

Samuel, 

Timothy, 
Willis, N. P., 
Wilson, John, 

William, 
Windsor, Peter, . 
Wing, Bachelor, . 



Page 
82 

153 
81 
153 

334 
87 

386 
86 

31 
204 
361 

4« 
272 
"3 
2=8 
288 
313 
103, 106 
204 
277 
57. 277 

42 

47 
363 

7' 
129 



Page 

Wing, Benjamin, . . • '29 

Ebenezer, ... "9 

Elijah '29 

Isaiah .... 129,270 

John, . . . 284 

Robert 217 

Sylvanus, . • • 129 

William, ... 129 

Wing Yard "7 

Winslow, Edward, . 148, 162, 163 

Isaac, .... 208 

John 154.293 

Josiah, . . .85, 164, 379 
Nathaniel, 32, 68, 159, 176, 379 

Pelham, ... 207 
Samuel, . . 287, 288, 292 

William, . . • 136 

William P '3 

W^inslow's Bridge, . . 32 

Winsor, Francis H., . . 382 

Joseph, .... 382 

Joshua, .... 159 

Winthrop, Adam, . . 218 

John, .... 7 

Witherell, Augustine, . . 191 

Eben, .... 191 



Witherell, EbenH., 

Jabez, 

William, 
Wood, E. W., . 
Woodworth, Samuel, 

Walter, . 
Worth, G.B., . 

Thomas, 
Worthington, Erastus, 
Wright, Thomas, . 

Warren, . 

William, 
Wyer, Christopher, 
Wyman, Elbridge, 

James, . 

Yarrington, R. H., 
Yates, Potterfield & Co 
Young, Edwin, 

Edwin A. 

Ephraim L. , . 

Job, 

Perez I^., 

Walter L., . 

Zachary, Daniel, 



Page 
191 

91,92 
98 
257 

, 43, 44. 313 
44 
105 

231 
180 
273 
258 
50 
234 
386 
391 

119 
M3 
390 
390 
252 
S4 
390 

390 

. 218,337 



EXPLANATION OF THE MAP OF MARSHFIEI.D, A. D. 1 794- 

Bounds of Marshfield : Beginning on the South-east in the middle of Green Harbor 
River about 60 rods from the mouth thereof. Thence by a Northern line of Duxbury, 
S. 6° 7 : 0' W. 580 rods, thence by Duxbury N. 48 : W. 953 rods to an Easterly 
corner of Pembroke, thence by Pembroke, North about 5° : 0' West 243 rods and 
thence by Pembroke in the nine following lines, viz : N. 25 : E. 142 rods, N. 80 : 
W. 105 rods due North 92 rods, S. 87 : W. 154 rods, N. 08 : W. 13 rods, N. 86 : 
W. 18 rods, N. 61 ; E. 37 rods, N. 37 : DOE. 18 rods and N. 51 : 0, W. 49% rods 
to Scituate Line in the middle of North River : thence by Scituaie Northerly and East- 
erly in said River down stream, to the mouth thereof, thence S. Easterly about 5 miles 
as the shore goes, by Massachusetts Bay to the mouth of Green Harbor River, thence 
about 60 rods up said River to the first mentioned bound. 

The reason why no Road is delineated is because by reason of the locality of the Town 
there is no Highway in it that can with propriety deserve the appellation of a County 
Road. 

There is a quantity of salt marsh contiguous to the Rivers but the largest quantity is 
up Green Harbor River. The colored part of the plan is the Rivers and along the sea 
shore bv the back of the Beach. The width of the Beach is various but may hold ont 
about 30 rods. 

The reputed distance of the centre of the Town from Plymouth Court House in the 
road commonly travelled is 15 miles and from Boston 36 miles. The actual survey of 
the Town was made between the 30th day of December, 1794, and the middle of June, 
1795. Falls of Water, Mountains, Manufactories, Mines and Minerals, none. Ponds, 
none except Mill Pond, that all artificial. There are seven Corn Mills and one Cloth 
Mill in Marshfield ; but two Corn Mills with a good supply of water would do the work 
they all seven do. 

1* The middle line at the mouth of the River is the boundary line between Scituate and 
Marshfield until it comes to Pembroke. 

2* South River is 12 and 14 rods wide near the North River Branch at low water and 
may hold out, the whole taken together, about half that width. 

3* It is full sea here two hours later than at the sea shore. 



KEY TO THE PLAN OF SCITUATE HARBOR. 



1 


Light House. 


2 


Cedar Point. 


3 


P. Murphy's. 


4 


Old Bates House. 


5 


Old Porter House. 


6 


Willow Street. 


7 


Drew House. 


8 


Old Dr. Jeffer's House. 


9 


Gun House. 


10 


John Bate. 


U 


Prouty House. 


12 


Old Morton House. 


13 


Old Dunbar House. 


14 


Wm. P. Allen's. 


15 


E. Perkins. 


16 


Wm. Turner. 


17 


N. Pool, store & house. 


18 


Allen's Store. 


19 


G. M. Allen's. 


20 


H. Vinal. 


21 


Jones' Houses. 


22 


Dr.'s Office. 


23 


John Beal. 


24 


A. Chubbuck. 


25 


Upper Road. 


26 


Road to 1st & 2nd Cliffs. 


27 


Work Shop. 


28 


Stable. 


29 


Work Shop. 



30 Tin Shop. 

31 Library Building. 

32 Post Office. 

33 Drug Store & Telegraph Office. 

34 Barber Shop. 

35 J. H. Smith. 

36 E. P. Welch's buildings & wharf. 

37 Store. 

38 Stebles. 

39 Shop. 

40 Store-houses. 

41 House. 

42 Salt Marshes. 

43 Cliff. 

44 North Houses. 

45 Crow Point. 

46 Water. 

47 Stage House. 

48 Beach. 

49 S. Benson Pt. 

50 Beach Road. 

51 C. Doritie's House. 

52 Cliff. 

53 Camp House, Flag >^taff. 

54 C. H. Bonney's Wharf. 

55 Buildings. 

56 Blacksmith Shop. 

57 Bridge. 

58 Satuit Brook Bridge. 



